The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed opposition claims that the Federal Government’s $1 billion investment in the Lagos Deep Sea Port amounts to economic sabotage and neglect of other ports in Warri, Calabar, Onne, and Port Harcourt.
In a statement on Tuesday, the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, described the allegation as “reckless” and “ignorant,” saying it reflects a poor understanding of economic policy and governance.
Oladejo clarified that the Lagos Deep Sea Port project is part of a broader national port modernization initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s leading maritime hub.
“The $1 billion investment in the Lagos Deep Sea Port is not a Lagos project; it is a Nigeria project,” he said. “It attracts foreign direct investment from China Harbour Engineering Company and Singapore’s Tolaram Group, who saw in President Tinubu’s vision a business environment worth their billions.”
According to him, the Federal Government is simultaneously modernizing other ports across the country. These include equipment upgrades and digitalization at Onne Port, dredging of Calabar Port to accommodate larger vessels, rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Port complex under a concession framework, and expansion of the Warri Port corridor with a new rail link for inland cargo movement.
Oladejo argued that the opposition’s criticism ignores these facts, adding that the Lekki Deep Sea Port is already transforming port management through automation, faster turnaround times, and higher government revenues.
“The $1 billion investment is not sabotage; it’s economic foresight,” he said. “It’s about creating jobs, boosting exports, and ending decades of inefficiency that made Nigerian ports among the most expensive in Africa.”
He further accused the opposition of attempting to “weaponize regional sentiment against national progress,” insisting that their attacks stem from ignorance rather than constructive engagement.
“The only sabotage here,” Oladejo added, “is the opposition’s effort to politicize development instead of supporting progress.”
