Governor Sanwo-Olu

Maritime media practitioners under the aegis of the League of Maritime Editors LOME, last week took a swipe at the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over comments credited to him, in which he criticised efforts by the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, to revamp port infrastructure of the country’s seaports in the Eastern flanks with a view to boosting their operational efficiency and enhance facilitation of trade.

Recall that the NPA had recently upgraded the infrastructure of the seaports in Warri, Delta state, Onne, Rivers State and Calabar in Cross River State, and has been encouraging importers and exporters to take advantage of the improved efficiency at the ports to increase their patronage of the ports rather than relying solely on the ports in Lagos with the attendant congestion and gridlocks on the roads, which made the NPA to introduce the electronic call- up system to regulate the movement of haulage trucks.

According to a statement jointly signed by the President of the League, Mrs. Remi Itie and Secretary General, Mr. Felix Kumuyi, the group reminded the governor that Nigeria is a federation and not a fiefdom as the governor’s comments suggested.

According to the League, it was wrong for the governor to interfere with the operations of the NPA, an agency of the Federal Government in order to halt the development of other seaports in the country.

Describing the governor’s comments simply as ‘a clear case of demonstration of obsession with Lagos dominance in the bid to stop aspirations of other regions’, the League reminded him that Nigeria’s efforts at achieving a trade hub in the region would not be achieved if the seaports are concentrated in one location with the attendant logistic challenges.

“The League of Maritime Editors (LOME) feels strongly embarrassed by the vituperation of Governor Sanwo-Olu and recommends the idea that Lagos is Nigeria’s economic destiny be re-evaluated.

“Nigeria is a federation, not a fiefdom. The idea that Lagos alone must remain the unrivaled commercial gateway is both arrogant and unsustainable. For decades, the over-concentration of port activities in Apapa and Tin Can has created monumental congestion, corruption, and inefficiency. Truck extortion, racketeering, and a broken e-call-up system are not the inventions of the Nigerian Ports Authority; they are the direct consequences of Lagos’ failure to manage its own infrastructure and regulatory environment.

“To now resist the decentralization of port operations to Warri, Onne, or Calabar is to insist that Nigeria’s economy remain shackled to Lagos’ dysfunction. Equity demands decentralization.

“The diversion of cargo to Warri is not a “Band-Aid,” as Lagos officials claim—it is a necessary corrective to decades of imbalance. The South-South and South-East regions, rich in oil, gas, and human capital, have been systematically marginalised in the distribution of economic infrastructure. Why should Warri, Port Harcourt, or Calabar not enjoy the same level of investment and patronage as Apapa? Why must the Igbo trader or Niger Delta entrepreneur be forced to funnel their commerce through Lagos, enriching one state while impoverishing others? True federalism demands equity in production, distribution, and growth. Lagos cannot continue to monopolize Nigeria’s maritime lifeline.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Lagos claim to “Unwavering Commitment” is not only a myth but should not also narrow the economic gauge of the development of regional economy, assuming but not conceding that his claim to unwavering commitment may be true.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s aides boast of “heavy investments” in traffic management and multi-agency coordination. Yet the reality on the ground is stark: Apapa remains a nightmare of gridlock, corruption, and inefficiency.

“If Lagos’ interventions were truly effective; why does the crisis persist? The truth is that Lagos thrives on patronage politics and rent-seeking, not on genuine reform. The resistance to Warri’s revival is not about efficiency—it is about protecting entrenched interests that profit from chaos.

“As a federation, Nigeria’s future lies in balance, not domination. The Lagos State Government must be reminded that Nigeria’s economy is not its private estate. The Warri Port Complex, like Onne and Calabar, represents the hope of millions in the South-South and South-East who have long been denied fair access to national infrastructure. Strengthening these ports is not a threat to Lagos, it is a step toward justice, balance, and national cohesion. A truly federal economy cannot allow one state to dominate while others languish in neglect.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s tribalised rhetoric and disdain for decentralization betray a dangerous vision of Nigeria’s future—one where Lagos remains the sole beneficiary of national commerce, while other regions are reduced to spectators.

“This vision must be rejected. Nigeria’s prosperity will only be secured when Warri, Onne, Calabar, and other ports thrive alongside Lagos, ensuring that no regional bloc is subsumed under another. Equity, justice, and balance—not domination—must define our economic destiny.

“The League, which was founded in 1998, comprises Nigeria’s best corps of journalists who had reported the maritime and allied industry for about 40 years. As a professional group, the League owes society the obligation of setting the records right about possible misconceptions in the industry, both as watchdog and agenda setter. This social contract cannot be negotiated”, the statement read in part.