Gradual but steadily he's warming himself into the heart of the South East business community. The constraints of doing business in the South East were something Dr. Uduaghan, the governor of Delta state seem to understand. Though a relatively new politician, his recent utterances and actions underscored that of a man determined to carve an enduring niche for himself.

Among the numerous problems that have impeded the consummate growth of business in the South East, infrastructure and social appear to be the most nagging. With the former arising from the state of the existing roads leading to the zone from major Nigerian cities. Then, there were the lack of a dredged sea channel and rail link, coupled with the absence of a practical International airport.

On the other hand, the social aspect, include among others, armed robbery attacks on the Lagos--Onitsha road,  the unspoken conspiracy of some members of Nigeria's customs and the police to impound South East bound goods at the slightest pretext. Goods that would later be resold in a shady manner.

Then, mention must be made of  the inconsistent government policies in international trade. Something that has made long term forecast and planning difficult for importers in the country in general. Statistically, the South East has the largest number of importers in the nation. And, according to the Chinese mission, the zone is China's biggest trading partner in Nigeria. 

Now that some unavoidable circumstances have propelled the Delta state governor to behold the South East, the stakeholders should see that as a step in the right direction. Interests, and not political boundaries should be paramount in this regard. For one thing, the two states are contiguous, and each has something the other doesn't have. A fact Mr.Uduaghan appear to understand.

On the strength of his knowledge of the business opportunities in the area, he has fired the first salvo with the commencement of  the construction of the Asaba airport. Though, Asaba, on her own right as a state capital, deserve an airport. But the fact that the project is competitively close to Onitsha and Nnewi business districts, even within the boundaries of Anambra state, has made it a double-edged blade of sort. Something that is currently making the governor to look for reciprocity across the Niger..

He now wants the South East business community, specifically Onitsha and Nnewi, to switch their maritime related activities to Delta state's seaports as soon as they  were renovated. A desire that must have, among other factors, been informed by his Itshekiri background. And a move, seen by many, as geared toward breaking the South West's near monopoly on the nation's stevedoring sector. 

In a meeting with the Amalgamated Traders Association of Onitsha which took place at Warri, the governor was said to have pressed home the argument that Delta state was nearer home, and that Warri and Koko, instead of Lagos ports, were the natural and safe place for South East's maritime needs.

In a zone where many things have been proposed and none was done, Uduaghan should be taken seriously. The open-ended proposal to dredge the lower Niger should further be a reason why the governor's hand of friendship need to be reappraised. 

Another game-changer in the unfolding business re-alignment was money; federal allocation. Delta has got it. She is far richer than Anambra from that perspective.  But, on the other hand, Anambra has an enviable, and thriving business community, one that would add an immense value to the Delta governor's economic agenda.

 And for the Southern people of Delta state, the fact that more new sophisticated sea ports have been penciled down for construction in the Southwest, has already foreclosed the chances of a future thriving Koko and Warri ports. Activities of oil companies may not just be enough for these ports. Dr. Uduaghan's on-going efforts to reach an understanding with the Eastern business community could be the way out.

There were promises of high capacity warehouses around the Asaba airport. This is in addition to his determination to have the road leading from the Warri seaport to the airport dualized on the state's bill. Something that will reduce the goods haulage time to Onitsha  from Warri to within three hours. One other issue he brought to table, and which must have been well taken by his guests was that of security, specifically on the road leading from Koko/Warri ports to Onitsha. 

Indeed, Dr. Uduaghan is walking on the right side of history. But the path he's chosen may not be all that smooth. To succeed in diverting the existing East/Lagos trading axis would be a seismic shift. Most South-Eastern trading organizations have their branches and factories in Lagos state. Thus, their choice of Lagos was not only borne out of the safe clearing of their cargoes, but marketing them as well. A concept which has made their mission in the state worthwhile. Even if Warri and Koko ports become operational and safe, the patronage of the few who have no subsidiaries in Lagos, may not just be significant enough to effect the desired change in the local economy of these moribund port towns.

Donald Duke, the former governor of Cross River state, tried as much to court South East business men, vis-a-vis Calabar port, without success. The Igbo presence in Lagos has transcended business to political and cultural ties. The indigenous communities were at home with them, and this is evident from the uninterrupted peaceful co-existence with the people. A fact that was recently reaffirmed by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Adeniran Ogunsanya, on her trip to Anambra state, where she honored Mr Ben Akabueze,  the Lagos State's Commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, whose origin is in Ifite Dunu, Anambra state. 

What may likely change the equation, still to a limited existent, would be the implementation of the dredging of the lower Niger, and the construction of the already designated sea-ports at Onitsha, Oguta, Azumini and Owerri-nta. Azumini community is a mere five nautical miles to the Atlantic coast.

Robot  Villager

# 1 Gradual but steadily he'swarming himself into the heart of the South East business communit...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 05.07.2008 12:34

k k kazinsky  In Purgatory

# 2 =Robot;4295065865>Gradual but steadily he'swarming himself into the heart of the South East business communit...Read the full article. >>>Thank you so very much for this uplifting and positive article. To keep hope alive,could you please visit regularly with more of the same? This is what I am talking about. No one state can receive money from the federation account(dash) and then decide to go it alone. It wouldn't go to far. Commerce between states is vital in many ways than one.Not only is it good for business/ecocnomy, it cements social ties and promotes understanding. This is what I have been trying to educate all the negative news peddlers about. Just print this article,grab a cup of your favorite poison(beer,coffee,soda), relax and read it. I grabbed a glass of water while reading it and I sure enjoyed it. Frankly, if the whole forum were to be filled with articles like this one there will be no need for me to post a single reply. I will just sit back and read all day long. What remains to be done is to convince those SE governors that it will be in their interest to encourage the flow of commerce with equal reciprocity. NO man is an island.Once again,from the very bottom of my heart, I say THANK YOU for the article. Posted by k k kazinsky| 05.07.2008 13:34

ozoodoo  Villager

# 3 On the other hand, the social aspect, include among others, armed robbery attacks on the Lagos--Onitsha road, the unspoken conspiracy of some members of Nigeria's customs and the police to impound South East bound goods at the slightest pretext. Goods that would later be resold in a shady manner. Were those "South East bound goods" by any means contraband goods imported illegally into the country? Why must some people deliberately undermine the wellbeing of our people by importing banned goods just because they want to make money by all means? Does those goods include consignment full of chalk labelled as paracetamol? Posted by ozoodoo| 05.07.2008 13:55

cdimkpa  Villager

# 4 =ozoodoo;4295065892> Were those "South East bound goods" by any means contraband goods imported illegally into the country? Why must some people deliberately undermine the wellbeing of our people by importing banned goods just because they want to make money by all means? Does those goods include consignment full of chalk labelled as paracetamol? Rubbish. Not all imported goods are contraband or fake. Indeed only an insignificant % are. Now tell me, if the goods are illegal/fake, why would the same custom that ceased the so-called fake goods turn round to sell same to themselves and their cronies? Therein lies the conspiracy. Moreover, not only SEners are importers in Nigeria. So don't come here preaching about fake goods and all that hackneyed thrash. The late Adedibu had a running battle with NAFDAC for fake goods importation, and the last time I checked, Adedibu was not from the SE. Posted by cdimkpa| 05.07.2008 16:38

Akpu-Nku  Villager

# 5 If Governor Uduaghan succeeds in building the Seaport and International Airport, the whole of Igbo states and their businessmen will patronise like a shot. It is evident that most Igbo businessmen prefer clearing their goods at Kotonuo or even far away Ghana than to having to run through numerous hurdles for months on end at Apapa to get access to their goods which some of them may not succeed in doing in the end or they would end up with mere remnants of what was supposedly their imported goods. For example, a friend is still struggling to clear his company goods since the begining of the year and that would not be the case if there are couple of more seaport or more in Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar. Competition is always good for business and all human endeavours. Take the mobile phone telecom for example and see the need for a competitive market by many networks which has effectively smothered lumpy old Nitel. Apapa will certainly sit up and clean up their act if they have to compete with other seaports. Posted by Akpu-Nku| 06.07.2008 10:38

Kingsley.chime  JJC

# 6 This a good step in the right direction, i hope that the Gov Uduaghan is sincere with this. Decongestion of lagos is long overdue and with this kind of move, its achievement is now on sight. It does not matter the kind of investment the easterners has in Lagos, every right thinking igbo man should embrace this move, it does not make sense for you to clear your good at tincan and travel all the way down to the east, delta state (Asaba) is nearer home, an igbo proverb that says "Nwanne enwe bu edi", we share a lot in common. This is a welcomne development and i encourage the governor to sustain it. We will achieve real real freedom from the vampires that has been holding this contry hostage for decades with moves like this. Posted by Kingsley.chime| 08.07.2008 03:01