October 29, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has dismissed claims by Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, that the $1bn Lagos Port Modernisation Project was a lopsided initiative focused only on Lagos to the detriment of other regions.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr Bolaji Akinola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, described Obi’s assertion as a “misleading impression,” insisting that the government’s port modernisation efforts are nationwide and inclusive.
Oyetola explained that the Ministry has already begun the procurement process for the renovation and modernisation of the Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne Ports, alongside the Lagos Port Modernisation Project.
These projects, he said, form part of a coordinated national strategy to revitalise and expand Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.
He added that the Federal Government is working with state governments and private investors to develop new deep seaports in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states, including the Agge, Ibom, Bonny, and Cross River Deep Seaports, to boost Nigeria’s maritime capacity and enhance regional competitiveness.
Oyetola also cited the Onitsha River Port in Anambra State, developed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), as clear evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to decentralising port operations and expanding maritime access beyond Lagos.
He explained that while the Lagos ports modernisation project is necessary due to the scale and age of facilities at Apapa and TinCan Island, it does not signify exclusive focus on the state.
“Our ongoing efforts to upgrade and expand other ports clearly affirm a nationwide commitment to developing the marine and blue economy in an equitable and sustainable manner,” Oyetola said.
He described Obi’s claim as “incorrect and misleading,” stressing that the Federal Government’s policies are guided by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises balanced and inclusive national development.
The Minister further noted that the ongoing marine infrastructure reforms are aligned with broader economic objectives such as diversification, food security, and regional prosperity through the full utilisation of Nigeria’s maritime potential.
He assured Nigerians that every region would benefit from the opportunities within the blue economy sector, adding that “the Federal Government remains committed to a balanced, inclusive, and forward-looking maritime development framework that serves all Nigerians, not just a section of the country.”
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