Complete Portharcourt-Enugu road, rail projects, revive eastern seaports now – Ohanaeze to Tinubu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Calls for Urgent Infrastructure Improvements
The Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to expedite the completion of several critical infrastructure projects, including the Port Harcourt-Enugu Expressway and the Port Harcourt-Enugu Standard Gauge Railway Line. The group also called for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Warri seaports, emphasizing their importance to Nigeria’s economic future.
This call for action was made in a communiqué released following a National Executive Council meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State.
Ohanaeze expressed concern over the delays in these projects, stating they have significantly hindered economic growth, increased operational costs for businesses, and deterred investment. The organization urged the Federal Government to recognize these projects as urgent national priorities, underscoring the benefits they would bring to regions across the country.
The group described the Port Harcourt-Enugu corridor as a vital economic route, linking the oil-rich Niger Delta with key commercial and industrial hubs in the South-East, while providing access to North-Central and Northern Nigeria. They noted that the current poor condition of the expressway has led to higher transportation costs and increased incidents of accidents.
According to Ohanaeze, completing the expressway would lower travel times, enhance road safety, and promote economic activities by facilitating the movement of agricultural products and manufactured goods.
The organization also highlighted the efficiency of rail transport, emphasizing the need to complete the Port Harcourt-Enugu railway to alleviate pressure on federal roadways and reduce logistics expenses.
Moreover, Ohanaeze called for the modernization of the Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Warri seaports, arguing that the overreliance on Lagos ports has resulted in congestion and delayed cargo clearance. They asserted that fully operational eastern seaports would lower import and export costs and improve cargo turnaround times, benefiting businesses across multiple regions.
The group projected that within five years of project completion, the initiatives could generate an additional ₦3 trillion to ₦5 trillion annually, contribute up to 1.5% to Nigeria’s GDP growth, and create between 150,000 and 250,000 direct and indirect construction jobs. They also estimated that improved infrastructure could sustain between 500,000 and one million permanent jobs over the next decade.
Furthermore, Ohanaeze estimated that rehabilitating the eastern seaports could yield between ₦700 billion and ₦1.2 trillion in government revenue annually through customs fees and port charges. The organization anticipates that enhanced infrastructure could attract $5 billion to $10 billion in investments over the next ten years in various sectors including manufacturing and logistics.
Ohanaeze called on the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and other relevant agencies to prioritize these projects. While acknowledging the developmental efforts of the Tinubu administration, the organization stressed the need for substantial progress.
“The time for decisive action is now,” the communiqué stated, asserting that these projects represent strategic investments in Nigeria’s economic resilience and future growth.
