The Igbo Community Association (ICA), the foremost socio-cultural organization representing the Igbo people in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for his unwavering and strategic efforts in advancing the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
While acknowledging this significant legislative achievement, the ICA has urged the Deputy Speaker to take a bold step forward by advocating for the long-overdue establishment of a seaport in the South East—an infrastructural necessity that the region has been denied despite its substantial contributions to Nigeria’s economy.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its President General, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, the ICA decried the absence of a functional seaport in the South East, describing it as a longstanding economic injustice that has stifled business growth, inflated costs, and subjected millions of traders and entrepreneurs to undue hardship.
The association lamented the region’s exclusion from Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, arguing that this oversight has placed an unfair economic burden on Igbo business owners, compelling them to endure the congestion and exploitative conditions at Lagos ports.
Despite being one of Nigeria’s most commercially vibrant regions, the South East remains without an operational seaport, while other zones benefit from multiple maritime facilities. The ICA highlighted 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, only two of these—both located in Lagos—are fully operational, exacerbating logistical challenges for South East importers who face high levies, excessive delays, and multiple extortions while transporting goods from Lagos to the region.
The ICA President, Engr. Ezenekwe, called for the immediate revival and acceleration of plans for two strategic seaports in the region—the Obeaku Ndoki Port in Abia State and the Oseakwa Seaport in Anambra State. He emphasized the economic significance of the proposed Oseakwa Port, located along the Oseakwa River in Ihiala Local Government Area. Historically an active maritime hub during the colonial era, the site facilitated the exportation of goods. Given its strategic location, approximately 285 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, the proposed port has the potential to revolutionize commerce in the region, alleviate congestion at Lagos ports, reduce transportation costs, and drive industrialization across the South East.
Reiterating its position, the ICA asserted that the absence of a seaport is not merely an inconvenience but a calculated act of economic marginalization, forcing Igbo entrepreneurs to spend billions of naira annually on excessive logistics costs, multiple taxation, and unofficial levies along the Lagos-Onitsha trade corridor. The association dismissed claims that a seaport in the South East would be unviable, citing the region’s thriving commercial activities in Onitsha, Aba, and Nnewi, which contribute significantly to Nigeria’s non-oil trade. It maintained that if the federal government is genuinely committed to national economic growth, the establishment of a seaport in the South East should be a priority rather than an afterthought.
The ICA further cautioned that continued neglect of this critical infrastructure would reinforce the perception that the South East is systematically sidelined in Nigeria’s economic framework, deepening feelings of marginalization. It emphasized that the economic transformation of the South East is not just a regional demand but a national imperative, as it would create a more balanced and productive economy. Additionally, easing trade bottlenecks through the development of a South East seaport would enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness, attract foreign investment, and alleviate pressure on Lagos ports.
While lauding Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his leadership and legislative achievements in securing the SEDC, the ICA urged him to leverage this momentum to push for the realization of a seaport as his next landmark accomplishment. It described the Deputy Speaker as a resolute and pragmatic leader who has demonstrated a remarkable ability to navigate legislative processes to achieve tangible results.
The group also called on other federal lawmakers from the South East to unite in advocating for what rightfully belongs to the region, asserting that history will not be kind to those who remain passive while their constituents suffer systemic economic exclusion.
Challenging the federal government, the ICA demanded that its professed commitment to national development be backed by concrete actions rather than mere rhetoric. It insisted that the South East has waited too long for infrastructural equity, stressing that the time for excuses, delays, and political maneuvering is over. The association warned that continued neglect of this issue would only fuel discontent and further erode the 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 viewed as an isolated success but rather as a stepping stone toward a broader developmental agenda that includes the construction of a fully operational seaport. The ICA urged Igbo political leaders, stakeholders, and business elites to unite in demanding urgent federal action on this issue.
“The Igbo Community in Abuja has immense confidence in the capabilities of our Deputy Speaker. We are proud to have him in such a critical position of leadership. He has performed admirably and understands the complexities of legislative advocacy. We appeal to him to champion the cause of seaports, as their establishment would significantly enhance economic activities, not just in the South East, but across the entire nation.
“With the successful establishment of the SEDC, securing a seaport for the South East should be the next priority. This would stand as another historic achievement. The time to act is now,” the statement concluded.
