LAGOS/Nigeria: Prof. Igho Natufe, President General of the Okpe Union, has voiced serious concerns over the heavy concentration of seaports in Lagos, highlighting the imbalance it creates in regional power dynamics.
Speaking at the 94th anniversary of the Okpe Union in Lagos, Natufe emphasized the need for restructuring to address this issue.
“From the perspective of the Okpe Nation and the Niger Delta region, the concentration of seaports around Lagos grants overwhelming power to the Yoruba and the entire South West region of Nigeria,” Natufe stated. He questioned the logic behind directing imports from Asian countries to Lagos ports when Calabar, Port Harcourt, Sapele, and Warri are geographically closer.
Natufe urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the revival of seaports in Sapele, Calabar, Koko, Port Harcourt, and Warri. “Sapele seaport, a natural seaport, which was second to Lagos before the military coup of January 15, 1966, has been completely abandoned, while Calabar, Koko, Port Harcourt, and Warri seaports have been left to rot and severely underutilized,” he lamented.
Highlighting the regional imbalance, Natufe criticized Yoruba political leaders for using their influence to monopolize seaport development in their region. “This monopoly has caused a grave disequilibrium in access to power on the distribution of seaports in the Niger Delta region, including the Sapele seaport. It makes no sense to concentrate Nigeria’s import-export business in only the Lagos seaports.”
Reflecting on local political performance, Natufe was critical of Okpe politicians’ efforts since the establishment of Delta State in 1991. “Okpe political leaders have performed very poorly in attracting businesses to Okpe Nation. Their access to power has not led to infrastructural development in Okpe Nation, unlike the achievements of Isoko political leaders in Isoko Nation,” he remarked.
Looking forward, Natufe outlined the Okpe Union’s plans to reposition the Okpe Nation. “Okpe Union shall continue its advocacy of investments in Okpe Nation, including reaching out to the Delta State Government on this important subject. We shall intensify our lobbying of both the Federal and State governments to ensure the revival of Sapele seaport and the attraction of industries to Okpe Nation.”
Natufe also addressed broader national security concerns, urging the federal government to take immediate action against banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping. “The fragility of the Nigerian state is aggravated by the insecurity in the country. We call on the federal government to evacuate Fulani herdsmen, bandits, and terrorists from the territories of indigenous ethnic nationalities across Nigeria,” he declared.
Natufe advocated for a national round table conference to address Nigeria’s existential crisis, stressing the need for inputs from all indigenous ethnic nationalities. “If the National Assembly proves incapable of producing a renewed federalism, the current crisis can lead to unwanted confrontations between ethnic nationalities with severe consequences for Nigeria.”
He concluded by reiterating the Okpe Nation’s commitment to national unity and restructuring. “We, Okpe, have no secessionist intentions. But we recognize that the Nigerian edifice is cracked and haemorrhaging. We are committed to working with other ethnic nationalities to guarantee the safety of all indigenous ethnic nationalities, on the basis of justice, fairness, and equity,” Natufe said. He expressed hope for a peaceful resolution, akin to the velvet model of Czechoslovakia, should the Nigerian state disintegrate.
