The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider establishing a seaport in the South East to boost commerce and improve economic activities in the region.
He made the appeal on Friday during a reception at the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, Abia State, where the president was hosted after commissioning a number of projects.
Kalu expressed gratitude to the president for his ongoing contributions to the South East through state governments but emphasized the need for a port that would serve the predominantly trading population of the region. “Mr President, we want to thank you for what you are doing in our state through our governor and what you are doing around the Southeast. But I must say it is about time that we had another seaport in the Southeast. Southeasterners are mainly traders, and we need a seaport to enhance our trading,” he said.
He also drew attention to the recent demolition of buildings and business premises belonging to Igbo traders in Lagos, describing the development as painful and urging President Tinubu to intervene. According to him, “the destruction and the demolition of the houses and the offices of our brothers in Lagos makes our hearts bleed.” He appealed that those whose properties were not yet affected be given an opportunity to regularize their documents with the Lagos State government.
Kalu argued that governance should be driven by cooperation between the federal and state governments and called for dialogue rather than policies that cause hardship. He stressed that “destruction at this time of hardship makes the hearts of victims bleed,” insisting that amicable solutions should be prioritized.
Despite being a member of the All Progressives Congress, the Deputy Speaker pledged his support for Abia State Governor Alex Otti, saying his character compels him to work with any leader in power for the success of his state. He noted that he had accompanied the governor throughout the day to inspect several projects, commending the efforts but urging the governor to “do more, like Oliver Twist.”
In his closing remarks, Kalu thanked President Tinubu for supporting projects in Abia and urged both the state’s Information Commissioner and media outlets to give credit to the president where it is due. He noted that such recognition would encourage Tinubu to extend more development to Abia and the wider South East region.
