Chinua Achebe, in Things Fall Apart, tells a story of Okonkwo, the main character, who was banished from his village of Umuofia for accidentally shooting a young man. When it was time for Okonkwo to return, after seven years in exile, he instructs his wives and children to prepare a huge feast for his mother's kinsmen in a gesture to show his gratitude for their support.
As expected, those without a good understanding of the Nigerian physical and human geography; no good grasp of the maritime industry, and no clue on the economies of shipping and logistics are attempting to push water uphill. The campaign to entice Igbos to withdraw from the waters off the coast of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Warri, etc. is an attempt to force the waters to flow uphill.
Without seaports, these landlocked countries pay more and wait longer for imported food, and other goods. Also, they have an equally hard time exporting, with the result that they trade less and grow more slowly than their coastal neighbors. A quick look at the map of Africa and the location of Central African Republic, Burundi, Niger, Chad, South Sudan, Mali, and Burkina Faso, will give you an idea of what it means to be landlocked.
So, do not let anyone deceive you, international treaties can promise access to the oceans, but the responsibility for implementing them lies with the governments of the"transit states". Now, imagine how happy and eager the minorities in the Niger Delta region will be to help build infrastructure that would mainly help their landlocked Igbo neighbors. They have little incentive to.
What a nation really need is the right leadership. Not necessarily natural resources. Dubai is an example. Nigeria another opposite side. Thinking
Remember Dubai was a dessert 35 years ago. Being a landlocked or not, knowledge is what free everyone from hardship. Nigeria with all her resources is suffering more than any poorest country you can think of.
Gutter media
By stating that Igboland is landlocked the writer is declaring that the Ikwerres and the Ekas and the Aniomas are not Igbos. This shows he has absolutely no knowledge of the geography or demography of the people about whom he writes.
The fact that Igbo land is not directly open to the high sea doesn't mean it's land locked. The Niger river can be dredged to the sea, and under UNCLOS the state has right of innocent passage.
Nigeria that is not landlocked... How are they doing today... Hope they are better than landlocked Switzerland
They are so worried of the igbos becoming a nation... Since you know they will become a failed state... Why not allow them... Allow us live our choice...
Loot at his face he looks like a product of ministry of happiness and iberiberism.
Whether landlocked oo or not we must exit Nigeria. That is nothing but the TRUTH.
This guy's head has been affected with COVID-19, he will be needing urgent attention, please help a dying brother mumu by name
Just answer him with the Dubai example....with the right leadership the Igbos will over come the land locked economic constraint.
The simple answer to this question is. Allow us to go.
Churchill Okonkwo the yeye boy.
Truth is bitter
This one of the efulefu's' my mama tell me i be igbo' i can bet it with my life that the writer has never been to igbo land in his entire life. Did he know where is Azumiri? from Azumiri to high see is how long? mumu with fake name ,mad journalist every where .WhereisOsibanjo
I am working on my research project that requires reporting crime locations in Nigeria through pix/video from a GPS enabled phone. I will pay 3k naira per 10 crimes reported in a week. Pls retweet. DM if interested.
What do you expect from a church rat?
OK. What about it. Dubai was once a landlocked but today is one of the most travelled countries.
It does not matter Mr so called 'Churchill Okonkwo'. If accepting that Igbo land is landlocked will give you peace, let it be. Even a 'blind man' knows it's not and we'll be okay and happy with what Mother nature has bestowed on us as an independent nation
Churchill refused to admit that there are so many landlocked nations that are better than Nigeria. I am a PR of one.😎 If south east and south south want to form Biafra, let them go. If Ibos want to form Biafra, let them go. If Yorubas want to form Oduduwa, let them go.
Being landlocked may not be the issue, but existing side by side with the nations you have all along been hostile to!