A technical team from China Harbour Engineering Company Limited has started feasibility and hydrographic studies for the proposed Obeaku Seaport in Abia State.
The team, which also worked on the Lekki Deep Sea Port project, visited Obeaku in the Ukwa East Local Government Area alongside officials from the state government. They conducted water-depth checks and navigation studies to determine whether the location is suitable for a seaport.
The traditional ruler of Obeaku Kingdom, His Royal Highness Eze Ikeagwuchi Ekeke, expressed support for the project. The community also donated over 2,000 plots of land and pledged full cooperation for the development.
He also maintained that the proposed facility should be named Obeaku Seaport, not the compound name previously suggested.
State officials described the survey as an important step toward the project. They said the seaport is expected to improve trade, attract investment, create jobs, and boost economic growth in Abia State and the South-East region.
The proposed Obeaku Seaport in Abia state throws open the argument that the Southeast is landlocked. Most Nigerians believe the region cannot harbour any form of maritime infrastructure. The argument has persisted for many years and has supported Lagos State’s monopolisation of maritime activity in Nigeria.
This is in addition to new findings and the Southeast, depending on Akwa Ibom and Rivers State for access to the sea. A seaport in the Southeast will do wonders for the region’s local economy and, by extension, Nigeria’s.
Last year, Dr George Moghalu, former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) commented on this issue. He revealed that about 65% of cargo entering Lagos ports ends up in Onitsha and Aba.
A thriving seaport in the southeast will give the region a larger share of Nigeria’s commerce ecosystem. This is only fair since its inhabitants remain key players. Besides commerce, a thriving seaport will also reduce emigration in the region. Young people are more likely to stay and participate in the region’s booming economy.
