By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on Igbo business men and women to start patronizing Onne Seaports at Igweocha, Rivers State for the importation and exportation of goods.

It expressed concern over the political and economic strangulation policies by the Nigeria State saying that it has frustrated the investment and development of Biafra Land since 1999.

IPOB cited the closure of functional Seaports in Biafra territory as one of government's wicked economic policies.

It reeled out Onne, Warri, and Calabar seaports as a pointer to the Seaport closure, even as Lagos seaports have remained functional ports.

The group in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, and made available to News Express on Monday said: "The consequences of such greed and selfish policy is that it has created a population surge nightmare and uncontrollable human and vehicular traffic in Lagos.

“The ugly situation in Lagos City and the Ports therein has forced the Nigeria Government to revive Onne port. Currently, Onne port at Igweocha is partially functional, though with some operational and management hitches that will be solved soon.

“Be as it may, IPOB calls on Ndigbo importers and exporters to route their imports and exports through the Onne port. We advise our people to ignore the state imposed operational hitches but to push through to break the state imposed barriers by patronizing the Onne port.

“Ndigbo are freedom fighters in every aspect, including in business. With time, those imposed barriers will be eliminated by our consistency to import and export through Onne port. No Igbo importer should think that they'll shut down Lagos State ports or make the operations of Onne port very effective and efficient, like Lagos ports.

“Ndigbo are barrier breakers by God's grace. We should use our divine wisdom and make the Onne port what we desire it to be. The proximity of Onne Port to the coastal and hinterland of Biafra is better than transporting from Lagos to the East.

“Moreso, the illegal checkpoints imposed by the Nigeria Military, DSS Police, Customs, Immigration, Civil Defense touts, and so on along Lagos - Eastern Region roads make it uneconomically viable to import through Lagos Port.”

IPOB called on all Biafran businessmen and women to bring either their whole business or part of their investment back home, saying: “We are poised to make our land an investment destination for the world even as we work hard for the restoration of the free and independent State of Biafra.

“IPOB and ESN will work hard to ensure our territory is peaceful, safe, and secure for our people and other foreign investors. Nigeria had meted harsh economic policies against Ndigbo and will impose more harsh economic policies against our people.”

While giving assurance that with time, Nigeria will regret their wickedness against Biafrans, IPOB recalled handing out handing out warning to Igbo businessmen ahead of time to think home and invest in the South East where investments would be more secure and protected.

It added: "Nigerian corporate and economic survival is not possible. Biafrans should be wise and make hay while the sun still shines. Do not say you were not warned.

“IPOB encourages Ndigbo importers and exporters to make use of Onne ports in Igweocha Rivers State as a viable option against Lagos Ports. We should not allow the State imposed technical and operational barriers to outweigh the economic benefits to Ndigbo and to the importers themselves.”

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