?Says Reps Deputy Speaker?s approach is making Igbo see Tinubu as a development ally

The Igbo Community Association (ICA), the apex socio-cultural body representing the Igbo people in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has applauded the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for his relentless and strategic efforts in advancing the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).

While acknowledging this historic legislative victory, the group urged the Deputy Speaker to take a further bold step by championing the long-overdue establishment of a seaport in the South East ?an infrastructural necessity that has been unjustly denied to the region despite its immense contributions to Nigeria?s economy.

In a press statement signed and issued on March 3, 2025 by its President General, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, the ICA decried the continued absence of a functional seaport in the South East, describing it as an enduring economic injustice that has stifled business growth, inflated costs, and subjected millions of hardworking traders and entrepreneurs to undue hardship. It lamented the exclusion of the region from Nigeria?s maritime infrastructure, arguing that this deliberate oversight has placed an unfair economic stranglehold on Igbo business owners, forcing them to endure the chaotic congestion and exploitative conditions at Lagos ports.

The association noted that despite being one of Nigeria?s most commercially vibrant regions, the South East remains without a single operational seaport, while other zones enjoy multiple maritime facilities. It recalled that Nigeria currently has six officially recognized seaports under the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), including the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa), Tin Can Island Port, Rivers Port Complex, Onne Port Complex, Delta Port Complex, and Calabar Port.

However, the ICA emphasized that only two of these ports ?both located in Lagos?are fully operational, thereby exacerbating logistical challenges for South East importers who must endure exploitative levies, excessive delays, and multiple extortions while transporting goods from Lagos to the region. The group insisted that this economic imbalance is neither incidental nor justifiable but a calculated attempt to undermine the economic advancement of the South East.

The ICA President, Engr. Ezenekwe, called for immediate action to revive and expedite the long-abandoned plans for two strategic seaports in the region?the Obeaku Ndoki Port in Abia State and the Oseakwa Seaport in Anambra State. He described the proposed Oseakwa Port, located along the Oseakwa River in Ihiala Local Government Area, as a project of immense economic significance. He recalled that the location was once an active maritime hub during the colonial era, facilitating the exportation of goods, and stressed that the proposed port, situated approximately 285 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, has the potential to revolutionize commerce in the region, decongest Lagos ports, reduce transportation costs, and stimulate industrialization across the South East.

Reiterating its stance, the ICA asserted that the absence of a seaport is not merely an inconvenience but a deliberate act of economic sabotage that has forced Igbo entrepreneurs to spend billions of naira annually on excessive logistics costs, multiple taxation, and unofficial levies along the Lagos-Onitsha trade corridor. The statement also dismissed the claims and speculations that a seaport in the South East would be unviable, citing the region?s massive commercial activities in cities like Onitsha, Aba, and Nnewi, which account for a significant portion of Nigeria?s non-oil trade. It maintained that if the federal government is truly committed to national economic growth, then establishing a seaport in the South East should be a priority, not an afterthought.

The ICA further warned that continued neglect of this critical infrastructure would only reinforce the perception that the South East is deliberately sidelined in Nigeria?s economic framework, thereby deepening grievances of marginalization. It stressed that the economic transformation of the South East is not merely a regional demand but a national imperative, as it would contribute to a more balanced and productive economy. The group also argued that easing trade bottlenecks through the development of a South East seaport would boost Nigeria?s global competitiveness, attract foreign investment, and relieve pressure on the already overstretched Lagos ports.

While commending Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his outstanding leadership and legislative accomplishments in securing the SEDC, the ICA urged him to leverage this momentum to push for the actualization of a seaport as his next historic achievement. It described the Deputy Speaker as a fearless and pragmatic leader who has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate legislative processes to achieve tangible results.

The group also called on other federal lawmakers from the South East to rise to the occasion and collectively demand what rightfully belongs to the region, asserting that history would not be kind to those who remain silent while their people suffer systemic economic exclusion.

Challenging the federal government, the ICA demanded that its professed commitment to national development be matched with tangible action, rather than empty rhetoric. It insisted that the South East has waited too long for infrastructural equity, and that the time for excuses, delays, and political maneuvering is over. It warned that continued neglect of this issue would only fuel discontent and further erode the already fragile trust that many Igbos have in the Nigerian state.

The statement concluded by affirming that while the establishment of the SEDC is a significant milestone, it must not be seen as an isolated achievement but rather as a stepping stone towards a broader developmental agenda that includes the construction of a fully operational seaport. It urged Igbo political leaders, stakeholders, and business elites to unite and speak with one voice in demanding urgent federal action on this issue.

?The Igbo Community in Abuja has great confidence in the capabilities of our Deputy Speaker. We are proud to have him representing the nation in such a critical capacity. He has done remarkably well and understands the intricacies of legislative processes. We appeal to him to revisit the issue of seaports, as their establishment would significantly enhance economic activities not just for the South East, but for the entire nation.

?With the successful establishment of the SEDC, securing a seaport for the South East should be the next milestone. It will stand as another historic achievement. And the time is now,? the statement concluded.

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