Abuja, Nigeria — Earl Osaro Onaiwu, a respected political strategist and former Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, has called on prominent South-South leaders serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration to use their influence and offices to revive the long-abandoned Warri and Port Harcourt ports, which once served as vital arteries of commerce for southern Nigeria.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Onaiwu appealed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, Minister of Niger Delta Development Abubakar Momoh, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken LokpobiriHeineken Lokpobiri, and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who hails from Delta State, urging them to prioritise infrastructure that reflects their positions in government and their roots in the Niger Delta.

“These men and daughter are sons and daughter of the soil. They know the pains of our people. The Warri and Port Harcourt ports, if revitalised, will create jobs, attract investments, reduce pressure on Lagos ports, and restore dignity to the Niger Delta,” Onaiwu said.

The South-South region, endowed with vast natural resources and a strategic coastal position, remains significantly underutilised in terms of maritime logistics and trade. Experts have long noted that Nigeria’s overdependence on Lagos ports has led to congestion, increased business costs, and logistical delays. A decentralised maritime economy could significantly enhance trade efficiency, especially with the advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Reviving Warri and Port Harcourt ports would strengthen Nigeria’s position within regional trade frameworks and stimulate industrial growth in cities such as Asaba, Aba, and Benin.

“You cannot be in power and your region remains stagnant. Influence must not only be used for political survival—it must be used to transform lives,” Onaiwu continued.

He noted that the Niger Delta has for decades shouldered the burden of the country’s economic backbone, largely through oil and gas contributions, yet has not enjoyed proportional infrastructural investment. The neglect of these ports, once critical to Nigeria’s maritime trade, has limited job creation, discouraged industrial investment, and weakened economic momentum in the region.

Onaiwu called on the Tinubu administration to align its national infrastructure plans with the latent economic potential of the southern corridor. The renewed interest in public-private partnerships and ongoing port reforms provides a timely opening for action. According to industry watchers, rehabilitating and modernising the ports in Warri and Port Harcourt could reduce supply chain costs by as much as 40%, unlock billions in trade value, and catalyse growth across sectors, from manufacturing to agribusiness.

“This is the time for collective action. History is watching,” Onaiwu said, urging regional leaders in government to collaborate across party lines and leverage their offices to deliver meaningful, lasting infrastructure that will benefit both their communities and the broader national economy.