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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State says the Federal Government’s $1 billion investment in Lagos ports is part of a nationwide modernisation blueprint. The APC Spokesman, Mr Seye Oladejo, stated this in a release on Tuesday while reacting to opposition parties’ criticism of the project. Oladejo said the investment was designed to transform Nigeria into West Africa’s premier maritime hub. He described as laughable the opposition’s claim that President Bola Tinubu had neglected the Warri, Calabar, Onne, and Port Harcourt ports while concentrating investments in Lagos ports. Oladejo said: “This reckless statement only exposes, yet again, the opposition’s chronic ignorance of basic economics and governance. “Their loud opinions are rarely backed by facts, figures, or even a faint understanding of national policy direction. “The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is not ‘neglecting’ any port. “It is not a Lagos project – it is a Nigeria project, attracting foreign direct investment from China Harbour Engineering Company and Singapore’s Tolaram Group, both of whom saw in President Tinubu’s vision a business environment worth their billions.” He said that contrary to the criticisms, the same administration had been executing projects in Onne, Calabar, Port Harcourt, and Warri ports. According to him, President Tinubu’s administration is implementing the Onne Port modernisation project, including equipment upgrades and digitalisation, while also dredging the Calabar Port to increase its draft depth and accommodate larger vessels. He added that work on the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Port complex, under a new concessionary framework, and the Warri Port corridor expansion with new rail link integration to ease inland cargo movement, were ongoing. “But of course, the opposition wouldn’t know this – they’re too busy tweeting ignorance and recycling talking points from the political dustbin,” he said. According to him, the $1 billion Lagos Port investment is not “sabotage”; it is economic foresight. “It is about creating jobs, boosting exports, and ending decades of inefficiency that have made Nigerian ports some of the most expensive in Africa. “The Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s first fully automated port, is already redefining port management, increasing turnaround time, and boosting revenue to government coffers. “It is the kind of progress that threatens those whose only skill in politics is complaining without contributing. “The only sabotage here is the opposition’s attempt to weaponise regional sentiments against national progress,” he said. Oladejo added that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda remained a national vision, not a regional favour, noting that “this administration’s commitment is holistic, inclusive, and nationwide.” He stressed that governance was driven by strategy, not sentiments, adding that President Tinubu and the APC remained focused “on building a Nigeria that works – one port, one project, and one policy at a time.” ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
