We were told that after the Nigerian Civil War, which lasted from 1967 to 1970, the seaports in Nigeria were temporarily closed. The closure of seaports as was reported then, was primarily due to the need to assess and rebuild infrastructure that had been damaged during the war. The conflict had caused significant destruction to various sectors of the Nigerian economy, including transportation and trade infrastructure.
The closure of seaports we were made to understand was a part of the overall process of post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation in Nigeria. The government at the time said they needed to evaluate the state of the ports, repair damaged facilities, and ensure that they were safe and operational for trade activities. This closure we were also told was a temporary measure taken to address the aftermath of the war and to gradually restore normalcy to the country.
Nigeria has several seaports located across the southern Nigerian coastline. In addition to the Lagos ports (Apapa and Tin Can Island ports), other major seaports in Nigeria include Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar, Warri, and Sapele seaports among other river ports and jettys. These ports should play a crucial role in facilitating trade, import, and export activities for the country as a whole.
The development of seaports i agree is a complex process that involves various factors, including infrastructure, funding, government policies, and economic considerations.
Lagos ports, being historically significant and well-established and unscathed during the civil war, curiously received far much more significant attention and investment over the years to the detriment of other seaports, and as a result, all major port related commercial activity moved to Lagos.
Resultantly, Lagos ports proximity to major industrial and commercial businesses along with existing infrastructure, has made them very attractive for trade activities and has occasioned a mass exodus migration of south easterners, south southerners and deltans to settle in lagos. The question now begs for answers why has there been little or no efforts to develop and improve seaports along the south eastern coastline of Nigeria to promote balanced economic growth and reduce congestion in the Lagos ports?
Granted that developing seaports requires substantial investment in infrastructure, including dredging, port facilities, road and rail connectivity, and other supporting amenities. These projects often involve coordination between different government agencies, private investors, and international partners. Why then is Nigeria is reluctant, not focused, and paying lip service to such a huge revenue generator for our economy?
Why haven’t serious efforts been made by our south east/south south governors in unison to lobby government to encourage private sector participation, improve regulatory frameworks, and attract foreign investment to enhance seaports development? Why haven’t they come together to lobby the federal government to implement policies and initiatives to promote maritime trade and port infrastructure development across the country. For our so called governors, this should be an ongoing lobby that requires continuous engagement and pressure to actualize the full potential of seaports along the coastline and hopefully occasion the reverse migration of our unwanted kinsmen from lagos.
A chance presents itself now.
Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
24/06/2023
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