The Federal Government has dismissed as misleading the recent remarks madeFG by former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, suggesting that the ongoing $1 billion modernisation of the Apapa and TinCan Island Ports was being done at the expense of other regions in the country.
This was contained in a statement signed by Dr Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, on Monday in Abuja.
The statement reads partly: “The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has consistently stated at various fora that the Federal Government is modernising and upgrading the nation’s ports in a comprehensive and inclusive manner not concentrating efforts solely in Lagos.
“The Ministry has already commenced the procurement process for the renovation and modernisation of the ports in Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne.
“These projects are being undertaken alongside the Lagos port modernisation initiative, forming part of a coordinated national strategy to revitalise and expand maritime infrastructure across all regions of the country.
“In addition to these ongoing interventions, the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is working closely with the respective state governments and private investors to develop new deep seaports that will further strengthen the nation’s maritime capacity.
“These 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. Each of these projects reflects the Ministry’s commitment to balanced development and regional economic inclusion within the framework of the national blue economy.”
“Furthermore, the Onitsha River Port in Anambra State, developed by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), an agency under the Ministry stands as a practical example of the Federal Government’s efforts to decentralise port operations and expand maritime access beyond Lagos. These initiatives demonstrate a deliberate and strategic approach to strengthening Nigeria’s port network, improving logistics efficiency, and stimulating industrial and commercial growth across the federation.”
“The Lagos ports modernisation project is a necessary intervention given the age and scale of trade handled through Apapa and TinCan Island. However, it is by no means the sole focus of the Federal Government’s maritime infrastructure drive. The Ministry’s ongoing efforts to upgrade, modernise, and expand other ports outside Lagos clearly affirm a nationwide commitment to developing the marine and blue economy in an equitable, sustainable, and forward-looking manner.”
Reiterating its stance, the Ministry stressed that Mr Obi’s comment suggesting the neglect of ports outside Lagos was “incorrect and misleading,” adding that the Federal Government’s policies were driven by inclusiveness and equity.
According to the Ministry, the Tinubu administration’s marine development strategy is anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda, designed to promote food security, economic diversification, and regional prosperity through full utilisation of the nation’s maritime potential.
It said the Government had adopted a comprehensive plan that integrates both port rehabilitation and the establishment of new maritime hubs across Nigeria’s coastal states, ensuring that no region is left behind in the nation’s blue economy transformation.
The Ministry emphasised that its interventions across the South-South, South-East, and South-West corridors were part of a deliberate effort to reposition the maritime sector as a driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development.
It further assured Nigerians that the ongoing reforms in the marine and blue economy sector would promote transparency, accountability, and equitable participation, noting that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to ensuring that “every region benefits from the opportunities inherent in the nation’s growing maritime economy.”
