Obi Criticises ₦1.5 Trillion Lagos Port Upgrade, Calls for Decentralisation of Maritime Infrastructure

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to adopt a more equitable approach to port development, warning that concentrating Nigeria’s maritime investments in Lagos undermines balanced national growth and regional inclusion.

Reacting to the Federal Executive Council’s approval of ₦1.5 trillion ($1 billion) for the modernisation of Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports, Obi said that while upgrading the ports is necessary, the move reinforces an unsustainable pattern of over-centralisation that marginalises other coastal regions.

In a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle titled “The Imperative of Diversifying Port Development in Nigeria,” Obi emphasised that decentralising port infrastructure is essential to unlocking the full potential of the country’s blue economy.

“While modernising and digitising our ports is commendable, such efforts must be guided by transparency, accountability, and fairness,” he stated. “Nigeria’s infrastructure spending remains overly concentrated in Lagos, often at the expense of other strategic ports like Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.”

The former Anambra governor noted that more than 70 percent of Nigeria’s port activities are concentrated in Lagos, leading to severe congestion, high demurrage costs, environmental degradation, and nationwide price inflation due to logistics delays.

Citing international examples, Obi pointed to countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, which operate decentralised port systems that drive regional development and efficiency.

“No nation seeking to optimise its maritime potential concentrates all port operations in one city,” he said. “A diversified port system reduces congestion, improves logistics, and promotes inclusive economic growth.”

Obi called on the Federal Government to revitalise other ports, particularly in Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne, as part of a national strategy to decongest Lagos, lower shipping costs, and boost local economies.

He also urged the government to combat corruption, streamline bureaucratic procedures, and embrace technology to create a modern, paperless port system that meets global standards.

“If effectively managed, the Lagos port modernisation could become a model for comprehensive maritime reform,” Obi said. “Nigeria must rebuild on the foundations of equity, integrity, and shared prosperity.”

The recent ₦1.5 trillion approval for Lagos port upgrades aims to improve cargo handling efficiency and reduce turnaround times. However, the decision has reignited debate over the urgent need to diversify the nation’s port infrastructure across other regions.