…faults Peter Obi’s claims
The President Bola Tinubu-led federal government has declared that it is working through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy with State Governors and investors to develop new Deep Seaports in the country with a view to strengthening the nation’s martime capacity.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola.
The Minister’s media aide was reacting to a comment credited to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) and former governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi in which he accused the Tinubu-led government of concentrating only on Seaports in Lagos.
Dr. Akinola emphasized that while the Ministry welcomes constructive dialogue on national development, it is important to correct the misleading impression created by Mr Obi’s comments.
He decried the recent remarks made by Mr Peter Obi regarding the Federal Government’s approval of the $1 billion modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports in Lagos.
Akinola further stressed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has consistently stated at various fora that the Federal Government is modernizing and upgrading the nation’s ports in a comprehensive and inclusive manner — not concentrating efforts solely in Lagos.
He noted that the Ministry has already commenced the procurement process for the renovation and modernisation of the ports in Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.
The statement further mentioned the state-owned Seaports being worked on by the federal government to include the Agge Deep Seaport in Bayelsa State, the Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State, the Bonny Deep Seaport in Rivers State, and a deep seaport in Cross River State.
He mentioned further that the Onitsha River Port in Anambra State, is being developed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), which is an agency under the Ministry — is a practical example of the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at decentralizing port operations and expanding maritime access beyond Lagos.
