(DDM) – Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize the revival of four dormant seaports located within the state.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the governor made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting, where he emphasized the importance of maritime infrastructure to both the state and the nation.
Oborevwori specifically urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to reopen the Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu seaports.
He explained that the facilities, once operational, would significantly reduce the overdependence on Lagos ports, which currently handle the bulk of Nigeria’s maritime trade.
According to the governor, the reopening of these seaports would not only ease congestion in Lagos but also decentralize economic activity, spreading opportunities across different regions.
Oborevwori further noted that reviving the ports would attract new investments into Delta State and the wider Niger Delta region.
He said that businesses in oil and gas, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics would benefit from improved access to maritime transport.
The governor stressed that such a move would translate into job creation, improved revenue for the state, and greater participation of local communities in economic growth.
He highlighted that the Warri, Koko, Sapele, and Burutu ports were once major centers of trade and commerce in Nigeria’s coastal economy.
However, years of neglect, insecurity, and siltation of access channels had led to their decline, forcing most cargo traffic to Lagos.
Observers note that this has created overburdened port facilities in Lagos, with long delays, high costs, and inefficiencies that affect trade.
Oborevwori insisted that reopening the Delta seaports aligns with his administration’s economic diversification and infrastructure development agenda.
He argued that maritime revival would complement ongoing state investments in roads, industrial parks, and power projects.
According to him, the seaports could serve as gateways for exports of agricultural produce, especially palm oil, rubber, cassava, and fisheries from the Niger Delta.
They could also provide alternative routes for petroleum products and other imports, reducing pressure on overland trucking routes.
Stakeholders at the meeting welcomed the governor’s call, noting that Delta’s strategic coastal position should not be underutilized.
They observed that the revival of seaports in the state would further strengthen Nigeria’s regional trade ties within West Africa.
Industry experts have long argued that decentralizing maritime operations is vital for national competitiveness and efficiency.
They stress that ensuring navigable waterways, modern cargo handling equipment, and improved security will be critical to the success of reopening the ports.
The governor’s appeal comes at a time when the Federal Government is under pressure to improve Nigeria’s business environment and expand non-oil revenue sources.
For now, residents and business operators in Delta State are hopeful that the government will heed Oborevwori’s call and revive the dormant maritime facilities.
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