Lost at Sea: The Unheard Cry of Nigeria's Eastern Corridor, Abandoned Seaports

This research focuses on the travails of Nigeria’s Eastern Corridor seaports; Onne, Warri, Calabar and Ibom. For decades, Nigeria’s vast maritime sector has been crippled with a vice-grip on its development by vested interests in the South-West and North-West geopolitical zones. While Lagos ports enjoy federal patronage, virtually none of the ports in the Eastern flank are operational; some operate below their installed capacity. Presently, Lagos ports are heavily congested; with long vessel turnaround period, official red tape, over-stretched facilities and exorbitant transportation costs. Meanwhile, Eastern seaports are underutilized, underfunded, underdeveloped and neglected by successive governments. This research adopts the historical analysis approach, states that the situation resulted in loss of job opportunities, economic stagnation and impoverishment of over 100 million people which these ports are supposed to serve. The paper states that Nigeria’s maritime potentials can only be unlocked when the Eastern Corridor seaports are revamped.