Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has commended the Federal Government for approving $1 billion (₦1.5 trillion) for the modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos, but called for a more equitable approach to port development across the country.

In a statement titled “The Imperative of Diversifying Port Development in Nigeria”, Obi welcomed the move as a positive step toward improving efficiency and embracing technology in Nigeria’s maritime sector. However, he stressed that such initiatives must be guided by accountability, transparency, and fairness to all regions.

According to Obi, the continued concentration of port development in Lagos reflects a longstanding imbalance in Nigeria’s infrastructural investment. “Nigeria’s infrastructure investment remains excessively concentrated in Lagos, often at the expense of other strategic ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne,” he said. “If fully developed, these ports could enhance productivity, drive trade, create jobs, and open new economic corridors that would lift millions out of poverty across the federation.”

Citing examples from around the world, Obi noted that countries which decentralised their port development have reaped enormous economic benefits. “Vietnam operates over 300 ports distributed across the country, Indonesia has about 111 commercial ports, South Africa maintains eight major seaports, while Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and even Ghana have ensured their ports are geographically spread to promote balanced development,” he explained.

He observed that over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s port activities remain concentrated in Lagos, causing severe congestion, high demurrage costs, environmental degradation, and delays that increase the cost of goods and discourage investors. Obi maintained that developing other ports is therefore not merely an infrastructural concern but a national imperative.

“Revitalising Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne would decongest Lagos, reduce shipping costs, attract investment, create employment, and stimulate regional economies,” he stated.

Obi further emphasised the need for holistic reform of the maritime sector to tackle corruption, reduce bureaucracy, and embrace technology for seamless and paperless operations. He expressed optimism that if prudently managed, the Lagos modernisation project could become a model for broader maritime transformation in Nigeria.

He concluded by urging the government to pursue fairness and equity in infrastructural planning, saying: “Now more than ever, Nigeria must rebuild with fairness, guided by equity, integrity, and a clear vision to transform our nation from one of consumption to one of production and shared prosperity.”

A Magistrate’s Court in Kuje, Abuja, on Friday granted bail to publisher and activist, Omoyele Sowore; Aloy Ejimakor, a member of the legal team representing the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu; the IPOB leader’s brother, Emmanuel Kanu; and 10 others, in the sum of ₦500,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

All 13 defendants were arrested and arraigned before the court for allegedly inciting public disturbance and breach of peace in connection with the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest held in Abuja on Monday, October 20.

While Ejimakor, Emmanuel Kanu, and the other 10 defendants were arrested during the protest and later remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility, Sowore was apprehended on October 23 at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he had gone to show solidarity with Kanu during his ongoing terrorism trial.

The 13 defendants are: Omoyele Sowore, Aloy Ejimakor, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Joshua Emmanuel, Bishop Wilson Anyalewechi, Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, Clinton Chimeneze, Gabriel Joshua, Isiaka Husseini, Onyekachi Ferdinand, Amadi Prince, Edison Ojisom, and Godswill Obiama.

The amended First Information Report, updated to include Sowore’s name stated that the protesters committed, “Criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, membership of an unlawful assembly, joining or continuing in unlawful assembly knowing it has been commanded to disperse, disobedience of order duly promulgated by a public servant, inciting disturbance, and disturbance of public peace contrary to sections 100, 101, 104, 152, 114 and 113 of the Penal Code Law.”

According to the charge, the defendants allegedly obstructed the movement of other citizens, disrupted the free flow of traffic, and chanted war songs while demanding Kanu’s release, in a manner said to threaten national security.

The charge further stated: “That you, Omoyele Sowore, fled upon sighting security agents and were later arrested. You thereby committed the above-mentioned offences.”

Ejimakor and 11 others were on Tuesday brought before the Magistrate’s Court by the police for arraignment, but the process was stalled due to the absence of legal representation.

As the defendants could not take their pleas, one of them, Nnamdi, who is also a legal practitioner, elected to represent himself. Ejimakor, however, requested a short adjournment to enable their legal team to arrive.

At the resumed sitting on Friday, the police counsel, Adama Musa, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment.

He said, “My Lord, the matter is for arraignment of the defendants, but we have an innocuous application to make. We have two First Information Reports — one dated 21 October and the other 23 October 2025. I apply to withdraw the FIR filed on 21 October 2025 and replace it with that of 23 October 2025. The essence is for the new report to cover all the defendants.”

The court granted his request, after which the amended FIR was read to the defendants for their pleas.

They all pleaded not guilty, insisting that the allegations against them were false.

Following their pleas, the prosecution requested a date for a hearing, while defence counsel, P. A. N. Ejoiofor, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on behalf of the defendants.

He said, “We have filed and served a bail application supported by a 13-paragraph affidavit. We urge Your Lordship to grant all the prayers contained therein.”

However, the prosecution opposed the bail request, saying, “We have filed a 13-paragraph counter-affidavit dated and filed on 23 October. We rely on all the averments contained therein and urge the court to consider it in the interest of justice.”

In response, Ejiofor noted that the counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution did not bear the correct suit number of the case before the court.

He argued, “The counter-affidavit carries a different number. They are two separate matters, and as such, there is no valid counter-affidavit before this court”.

He explained that while there is a sister case with charge number CR/252/2025, the present one before the court is marked CR/253/2025. Therefore, the purported counter-affidavit is irrelevant.

Prosecutor Musa urged the court to disregard the objection, arguing that the content of the counter-affidavit should be considered regardless of the numbering error.

He said, “Whether the CR number is right or wrong, the decision to accept the counter-affidavit lies solely with the court. I urge Your Lordship to dismiss the objection, as this is not a matter of technicality.”

Ejoiofor, however, maintained that the counter-affidavit could not stand since it was filed under a different case number.

He argued, “If the document does not relate to this case, it is null and void. A counter-affidavit cannot be corrected by mere submission of counsel.”

He further urged the court to grant bail to the defendants, saying, “Some of these individuals are public figures. Sowore is a former presidential candidate; Bishop, Ejimakor, and Kanu’s brother are all well-known personalities. Many of them are legal practitioners with over 15 years at the Bar.”

The prosecution countered, saying: “They may be public figures to him, but not to me. Granting bail remains at the discretion of the court, and I urge your lordship not to grant bail to the defendants.”

In his ruling, the Magistrate agreed with the defence that the counter-affidavit was not validly filed for the present case.

He held, “There is no counter-affidavit before this court. I cannot rely on a document filed in another case to decide this one.”

Having made this clarification, the Magistrate proceeded to grant bail to all 13 defendants.

He admitted them to bail in the sum of ₦500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties are to present evidence of three years’ tax clearance, a valid means of identification such as a National Identification Number slip or an international passport.

The matter was subsequently adjourned till December 15, 2025, for hearing.

President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs.

This is “in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture,” a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, read Friday.

The statement is titled ‘Tinubu changes service chiefs.’

According to Dare, the President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff.

“The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff, while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff. Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement further read.

Tinubu charged the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them by further enhancing the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

All appointments take immediate effect.

Details shortly…