Site Seaport in South East, Intervene in Lagos Demolitions, Benjamin Kalu Begs Tinubu
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider the creation of a functional seaport in the South East region of Nigeria to boost trade, enhance economic growth, and address long-standing developmental disparities in the zone.
Kalu made the plea during a recent engagement where he emphasized that the South East, despite being one of the country’s most commercially vibrant regions, lacks critical maritime infrastructure.
He noted that the absence of a regional port forces traders and manufacturers from the area to rely heavily on Lagos ports, resulting in higher costs of doing business, congestion, and logistical setbacks.
The lawmaker explained that developing a seaport in the South East would not only ease pressure on existing ports in Lagos but also accelerate industrial growth and open up new economic opportunities across the region.
Potential sites proposed for consideration include Obeaku Ndoki in Abia State and Oseakwa in Anambra State.
Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitution Review, lauded President Tinubu’s support for the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and other ongoing federal projects in the region, such as the proposed Abia Airport and renewed investment in road infrastructure.
He described these moves as positive steps toward correcting years of infrastructural imbalance.
In a related development, the Deputy Speaker has also appealed to President Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing demolition of houses and business premises belonging to Igbo people in Lagos State.
Kalu described the situation as deeply distressing, saying it has caused immense emotional and economic pain to many families.
He urged the Lagos State Government to provide affected individuals an opportunity to regularize or update their property documentation rather than resorting to outright demolitions.
“For those who may not have the right documents, they should be allowed to rectify their papers rather than watch their homes and offices destroyed,” Kalu said, calling the demolitions “a development that makes the heart of the Igbo bleed.”
The Deputy Speaker appealed for compassion and fairness in the enforcement of urban development policies, emphasizing that the unity of the country is best sustained through justice and inclusiveness.
He maintained that the Igbo community in Lagos has contributed significantly to the state’s economy and deserves understanding, not displacement.
Observers say Kalu’s twin appeals highlight two long-standing concerns among southeastern Nigerians — infrastructural neglect and the sense of economic marginalization.
His call for a seaport reflects a broader regional demand for equal access to federal development projects, while his intervention on the demolitions underscores a plea for fairness and protection of citizens’ property rights.
While President Tinubu has yet to make a public statement on the matter, Kalu expressed optimism that the federal government will respond positively to the calls, describing the president as “a leader committed to inclusive growth and balanced development across all regions of Nigeria.”
