A Few days after Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) inked an agreement to transform the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) called for the strategic inclusion of Niger Delta ports in the national maritime development agenda.

The umbrella body of Ijaw youths, while commending President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in modernising Nigeria’s port infrastructure, emphasised the importance of fairness, equity, and adherence to federal character principles in the distribution of national assets.

In a statement signed by Binebai Princewill, the IYC calls for the development, rehabilitation, and operationalisation of key ports in the Niger Delta region, including Burutu, Warri, Onne, Sapele, Bonny, Koko, Brass, Agge Deep Seaport, and Gelegele Seaport.

It said that these ports are historically significant and possess strategic advantages for trade, logistics, and industrial expansion.

The IYC highlighted the need for balanced development across all geopolitical zones to decongest Lagos ports, stimulate economic growth, create job opportunities, enhance national security, and promote regional industrialisation.

The council urged Tinubu to ensure that port development projects reflect national balance, calling on relevant agencies to initiate feasibility assessments and partnership frameworks for reviving these maritime assets.

The statement reads: “The Ijaw nation, which has contributed immensely to Nigeria’s economic survival, particularly through oil and gas resources, deserves equitable access to infrastructure that will further unlock its economic potential.

“We therefore urge President Bola Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship by ensuring that ongoing and future port development projects reflect true national balance. The principle of federal character must not be theoretical; it must be visible in tangible projects that impact the lives of all Nigerians.

“It is our considered position that Nigeria’s maritime development must not be disproportionately concentrated in Lagos State alone. The continued centralisation of port infrastructure in Lagos not only places undue pressure on existing facilities but also sidelines historically significant and economically viable ports across the Niger Delta and Ijaw territories.

The group noted that the current concentration of port development in Lagos, reportedly involving investments valued at over N1.3 trillion, raises serious concerns about regional imbalance and economic exclusion. According to IYC, Nigeria is a federation, and its development must reflect inclusivity across all geopolitical zones.