Geo-Politics of Maritime Shipping and Sustainable Sea Port Management in Marginalised Region of Nigeria: Case of Ibom Deep Sea, Calabar, Onne and Warri Ports

Abstract

The study entitled ‘Geo-Politics of maritime shipping and sustainable seaport management in marginalised region of Nigeria: Case of Ibom Deep Sea, Calabar, Onne and Warri Ports’ explore the complexities and intricacies in the Nigerian shipping industry characterised by ethno-political bigotry, regional marginalisation and individual interest over collective goods. Niger Delta is recognised as one of world’s most popular geographic entities due to its abundance natural resources particularly oil and gas, fisheries and navigable water. The paper used narrative and literatures from pre-existing journals and reports in an attempt to understand the rationale for the collapse of shipping industry in Niger Delta as well as the forces opposing sustainable seaport management in the region despite the resources and the yearning of the people. Findings revealed that the Calabar and Warri seaports has been abandoned, the Onne port is dominated by foreign investors while the proposed Ibom deep seaport is fictional and unrealistic for more than a decade. It was also found out that influential entrepreneurs and political figure in the Southwest due to their interest in the Lagos Sea ports, are not in support of seaport decentralisation policy with fears that, such actions would result to the collapse of their shipping investment in the Southwestern Nigeria. The delay in the implementation of seaports in the Niger Delta region is not just economic barrier to the regional itself, it extends beyond Nigeria up to the Gulf of Guinea. Findings shown that the completion of Ibom Deep Sea port which is bounded by six (6) maritime African countries is capable of transforming the economic situation of Nations within the Gulf of Guinea. It was further found out that, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) sited in Lagos are dominated by certain ethnic division who have put a stronghold by ensuring that their region controls the shipping industry, thus leaving other region with better shipping potential irrelevant. Following this, it is suggested that decentralisation of seaport in all the six geo-politic regions will bring about an all-encompassing development, inclusive growth, job opportunities and wealth for all Nigerians and Africa by extension.