The Ohanaeze Youth Council has faulted the recent agreement between the Federal Government and the United Kingdom to refurbish two major ports in Lagos.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the group’s National President, Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, described the deal as evidence of continued neglect of seaport infrastructure in the South-East. 🗞️
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, witnessed the signing of a £746m agreement at Lancaster House for the modernisation of facilities at the Apapa Port and Tin Can Island Port.
He said the agreement was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, while Blair McDougall represented the British government.
Igboayaka lamented that several seaport locations in Igboland, including areas in Anambra, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi states, had remained underdeveloped despite their proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. ⚓
“The neglect of infrastructural development in Igboland, particularly seaports, airports and railways, has fuelled renewed agitation for Biafra restoration,” he said, referencing the movement led by Nnamdi Kanu of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
He further alleged that a proposed seaport project at Ihiala and Oguta, first considered in the late 1950s, was abandoned in favour of port expansion in Lagos.
The youth leader called on the Federal Government to initiate dredging projects in the South-East as a demonstration of equity and commitment to national unity.
He also criticised prominent South-East political and business figures for allegedly failing to lobby for inclusion of the region in major infrastructure deals.
Efforts to get official reactions from government representatives were unsuccessful as of press time.
