The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has issued a call for the strategic inclusion of ports located in the Niger Delta region into the nation's maritime development roadmap. This appeal comes shortly after Nigeria and the United Kingdom finalized an agreement focused on modernizing the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
The IYC, representing Ijaw youth globally, acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s port infrastructure. However, the council emphasized the critical need for fairness, equity, and adherence to the principles of federal character in the allocation and development of national assets.
In a statement released and signed by Binebai Princewill, the IYC specifically requested the development, refurbishment, and activation of vital ports within the Niger Delta. These include ports such as Burutu, Warri, Onne, Sapele, Bonny, Koko, Brass, Agge Deep Seaport, and Gelegele Seaport.
The council pointed out that these ports hold significant historical importance and possess inherent strategic advantages for facilitating trade, optimizing logistics, and driving industrial expansion.
The IYC underscored the necessity of balanced development across all geopolitical zones to alleviate congestion at Lagos ports, foster economic growth, generate employment, bolster national security, and promote industrialization throughout the regions.
Therefore, the council implored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that port development initiatives reflect a commitment to national balance. It also urged relevant government agencies to commence feasibility studies and establish partnership frameworks aimed at revitalizing these crucial maritime assets.
The statement articulated: "The Ijaw nation, having made substantial contributions to Nigeria’s economic sustenance—primarily through its oil and gas resources—merits equitable access to infrastructure that can further unlock its economic potential.
"We thus implore President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate statesmanship by ensuring that current and future port development projects embody genuine national balance. The federal character principle should not remain abstract; it must translate into tangible projects that positively impact the lives of all Nigerians.
"It is our firm belief that Nigeria’s maritime development should not be overwhelmingly concentrated in Lagos State alone.
"The ongoing centralization of port infrastructure in Lagos not only imposes excessive strain on existing facilities but also overlooks historically important and economically viable ports situated across the Niger Delta and Ijaw territories.
"The current focus on port development in Lagos—reportedly involving investments exceeding N1.3 trillion—raises significant concerns regarding regional disparity and economic exclusion. Nigeria, as a federal nation, requires development that mirrors inclusivity across all geopolitical zones.
"The IYC Worldwide wishes to state unequivocally that the Federal Government's persistent refusal or failure to address such fundamental and legitimate demands for inclusivity remains a primary catalyst for escalating ethnic agitations nationwide.
"Nigeria, being a multi-ethnic society, must be administered with fairness, justice, and balance, ensuring that every ethnic group feels a sense of belonging and is treated equitably. Any deviation from this principle risks exacerbating divisions and undermining national unity."
Despite these concerns, the IYC reaffirmed its dedication to pursuing peaceful advocacy for justice, equity, and sustainable development within the Niger Delta and the Ijaw territories.
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