If I Drop My Container in Calabar, It Takes 24 Hours to Reach Yola; Now It Takes Two Months – Atiku
If I Drop My Container in Calabar, It Takes 24 Hours to Reach Yola; Now It Takes Two Months – Atiku
According to a report from an interview on Arise Television on Friday, August 28, 2026, ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has advocated for the development of additional seaports in Nigeria’s South-South and South-East regions to improve the distribution of imported goods and make transportation more efficient.
The former Vice President said expanding port infrastructure beyond Lagos would help create a more balanced system for importing and transporting goods across the country. He argued that businesses located outside the South-West currently face significant difficulties because much of the country’s import-related activity is concentrated around Lagos.
Atiku explained that poor road infrastructure has made the movement of goods from Lagos to other parts of the country particularly challenging. He highlighted the difficulties faced by businesses transporting containers to the North-East, saying the journey can take considerably longer than it should.
“If I drop my container in Calabar or in Uyo or in Port Harcourt, it will just take me 24 hours to take the container to Yola. But right now, it takes me not less than 2 months to take my container from Lagos because you have to cross over. From the southwest, you go to the northeast, and then there is even no road. So we are on the same page as far as that request is concerned.”
The presidential candidate argued that establishing and upgrading ports in the South-South and South-East would provide businesses with alternative routes for receiving imported goods. He maintained that such infrastructure could reduce the pressure placed on Lagos ports while also shortening the distance goods have to travel to other regions.
According to Atiku, a more decentralised port system would support economic activity across different parts of Nigeria and reduce the logistical disadvantages experienced by businesses located far from Lagos.
He further explained that his position was informed partly by his experience as a businessman operating a factory in Adamawa State. Since the business is located in the North-East, he said he understands the difficulties companies in the region face when transporting containers from Lagos.
The former Vice President suggested that addressing the infrastructure deficit would be important for improving Nigeria’s broader transportation and trade network. Better roads, functioning ports and more efficient distribution channels, he argued, would make it easier for businesses to move goods while potentially reducing the time and cost associated with transportation.
His comments form part of his broader position on infrastructure and economic development ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Atiku has continued to campaign on policies aimed at improving Nigeria’s economic infrastructure and creating conditions that would allow businesses across different regions to operate more efficiently.
