The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently complete the Port Harcourt-Enugu Expressway, the Port Harcourt-Enugu Standard Gauge Railway and rehabilitate the Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri seaports, describing the projects as critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and national development.
The group made the appeal in a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where members reviewed key national issues and the state of infrastructure in the South-East and South-South.
Ohanaeze said the long delay in completing the projects has continued to hurt businesses, increase transportation costs, discourage investment and weaken Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and international trade.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to treat the projects as urgent national priorities, stressing that its appeal was based on economic realities rather than ethnic or political considerations.
According to the communiqué, completing the projects would benefit every region of the country by improving transportation, boosting trade, reducing the cost of doing business and promoting national unity.
The group described the Port Harcourt-Enugu corridor as one of Nigeria’s most important economic routes because it connects the oil-producing Niger Delta with the commercial and industrial centres of the South-East while also serving as a major gateway to the North-Central and Northern parts of the country.
It noted that years of neglect of the expressway have resulted in poor road conditions, frequent accidents and high vehicle maintenance costs.
Ohanaeze also said the condition of the road has increased the cost of transporting goods, delayed business activities and contributed to rising prices of food and other commodities because of higher logistics expenses.
According to the organisation, completing the highway would significantly reduce travel time, improve road safety, lower transport costs and make it easier for farmers and manufacturers to move their products across the country.
It added that improved road infrastructure would encourage more private sector investment and stimulate industrial development along the economic corridor.
The organisation also highlighted the importance of completing the Port Harcourt-Enugu Standard Gauge Railway, describing rail transport as the most efficient and cost-effective means of moving large volumes of passengers and heavy cargo.
It said an operational railway would reduce pressure on federal highways, cut logistics costs, improve the movement of goods and support economic activities across several regions.
Ohanaeze further called for the rehabilitation and modernisation of the Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri seaports.
According to the group, Nigeria’s heavy dependence on the Lagos ports has resulted in persistent congestion, delays in cargo clearance and higher shipping costs for businesses.
The organisation argued that reviving the eastern ports would decongest Lagos, shorten cargo handling time and reduce the cost of imports and exports.
It also said businesses in the South-East, South-South, North-Central and Northern Nigeria would enjoy easier access to international markets if the ports become fully operational.
Ohanaeze maintained that developing the road, rail and port infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s position under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to increase trade among African countries.
The group said improved infrastructure would position Nigeria as a major manufacturing, logistics and maritime hub for West and Central Africa.
To support its position, Ohanaeze released projections on the potential economic impact of the projects.
It estimated that within five years of completion, the combined infrastructure projects could generate between ₦3 trillion and ₦5 trillion in additional annual economic output.
According to the organisation, the projects could also contribute up to 1.5 per cent to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth during the same period.
The group further projected that construction activities alone could create between 150,000 and 250,000 direct and indirect jobs.
It added that once fully operational, the projects could sustain between 500,000 and one million permanent jobs over the next decade in transportation, manufacturing, logistics, shipping and other related sectors.
Ohanaeze also estimated that rehabilitating the eastern seaports could increase government revenue by between ₦700 billion and ₦1.2 trillion every year through customs duties, port charges and other maritime-related income.
The organisation further predicted that improved infrastructure could attract between $5 billion and $10 billion in local and foreign investments over the next 10 years, particularly in manufacturing, petrochemicals, agro-processing, logistics and export-oriented industries.
The NEC called on the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Nigerian Ports Authority and other relevant government agencies to accelerate work on the projects.
According to the communiqué, early completion of the infrastructure would not only improve economic activities in the South-East and South-South but also strengthen national integration by connecting key commercial centres across the country.
The group noted that businesses across Nigeria stand to benefit from lower transportation costs, improved supply chains and faster movement of goods.
It also argued that modern transport infrastructure is essential if Nigeria hopes to compete with other African economies seeking to take advantage of expanding regional trade opportunities.
While acknowledging what it described as the Tinubu administration’s efforts in delivering infrastructure projects across different parts of the country, Ohanaeze said the time had come for concrete action on the long-delayed eastern projects.
The organisation urged the Federal Government to move beyond policy announcements and ensure the projects are completed without further delay.
“The time for decisive action is now. These projects are not merely infrastructure; they are strategic investments in Nigeria’s future prosperity, unity, economic resilience and enduring greatness,” the communiqué stated.
Successive administrations have promised to improve transport infrastructure across Nigeria as part of efforts to stimulate economic growth, reduce the cost of doing business and improve connectivity between the country’s six geopolitical zones.
In recent years, the Federal Government has undertaken major road and railway projects across different parts of the country, while also seeking to modernise ports and expand maritime activities under its blue economy agenda.