Port Modernization Sparks National Debate: Peter Obi Calls for Regional Balance
Back home in Nigeria, another transformative project is taking shape — the Federal Government’s approval of a $1 billion modernization plan for the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos, the country’s busiest maritime hubs.
Announced by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, during the 2025 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Nigeria Conference, the project aims to upgrade terminal infrastructure, streamline cargo handling, and align Nigeria’s ports with global operational standards.
Oyetola, represented by Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), said the project would transform Lagos into a modern logistics nerve center capable of supporting Nigeria’s emerging Blue Economy ambitions.
However, former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has cautioned against what he termed the “overconcentration” of national port investment in Lagos. In a strongly worded statement, Obi called for diversification and regional balance, arguing that neglecting other ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne undermines economic equity and national cohesion.
“Nigeria’s infrastructure investment remains excessively concentrated in Lagos,” Obi said. “If fully developed, other ports could enhance productivity, drive trade, create jobs, and open new economic corridors that would lift millions out of poverty.”
He warned that with over 70 percent of port activity still confined to Lagos, congestion, high demurrage costs, and environmental degradation have reached critical levels. For Obi, the modernization project must therefore serve as a template for nationwide reform, not a reinforcement of imbalance.
Drawing comparisons to Vietnam, Indonesia, Egypt, and Morocco, he noted that these nations achieved efficiency and competitiveness by decentralizing port operations and creating multi-nodal maritime economies.
A Call for Transparency and Transformation
Beyond infrastructure, Obi urged the Federal Government to ensure that the modernization drive is guided by accountability, transparency, and technological innovation — emphasizing a shift toward a paperless, corruption-free port ecosystem.
“Now more than ever, Nigeria must rebuild with fairness, guided by equity, integrity, and a clear vision to transform our nation from one of consumption to one of production and shared prosperity,” he concluded.
For industry stakeholders, Obi’s comments underscore a broader truth: the modernization of Nigeria’s logistics backbone must align with balanced regional growth, ensuring that every port city contributes to and benefits from the nation’s maritime resurgence.
