Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said Lagos port investment is economic genius, not sabotage.
Spokesman Seye Oladejo said yesterday in a statement in Ogba, Lagos: ‘’We have once again been treated to the comic relief that passes for opposition commentary in Nigeria – this time, the laughable claim that “neglecting Warri, Calabar, Onne and Port Harcourt ports, while spending $1 billion on Lagos port, amounts to economic sabotage.
‘’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.’’
He said the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was not neglecting any port.
‘’The $1 billion investment in Lagos Deep Sea Port is part of a nationwide modernisation blueprint designed to transform Nigeria into West Africa’s premier maritime hub.
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‘’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,’’ Oladejo further said.
Oladejo added: ‘’The same administration is executing the following: Onne Port modernisation, including equipment upgrade and digitalisation. Dredging of Calabar Port, to increase draft depth and accommodate larger vessels. Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Port complex, under a new concessionary framework; and Warri Port corridor expansion, with new rail link integration to ease inland cargo movement.
‘’But of course, the opposition wouldn’t know this – they’re too busy tweeting ignorance and recycling talking points from the political dustbin.’’
He noted that the $1 billion Lagos Port investment was not sabotage. ‘’It’s economic foresight. It’s about creating jobs, boosting exports and ending decades of inefficiency that made Nigerian ports some of the most expensive in Africa.’’
Oladejo said the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s first fully automated port, was already redefining port management, increasing turnaround time and boosting revenue to government coffers. ‘’It’s the kind of progress that threatens those whose only skill in politics is complaining without contributing.’’
He added: ‘’The only sabotage here is the opposition’s attempt to weaponise regional sentiment against national progress. The tragedy is not that they don’t understand economics – it’s that they don’t care to learn.
‘’Although it is widely acknowledged that constructive intellectual engagement remains the major weak point of Mr. Peter Obi, he will do well to carry out in-depth research into any issue he wishes to put in the public domain.”
‘’This will help him avoid the legacy of generational embarrassment that comes from shallow, ill-informed commentary dressed up as economic analysis. Nigeria deserves leaders who think before they speak, not those who confuse populist sound bites for policy discourse.
‘’From the Bonny Deep Sea Port in Rivers, to the Ibom Port in Akwa Ibom, to the ongoing dredging and rehabilitation of Warri and Calabar ports – this administration’s commitment is holistic, inclusive and nationwide.
‘’That Lagos appears ahead is simply because vision meets execution here. President Tinubu’s leadership has always been about results, not rhetoric.
Unlike the opposition, which specialises in propaganda and excuses, APC builds what others only promise.’’
Oladejo said those crying foul over the Lagos Port investment should first pick up a basic economic policy manual before embarrassing themselves further.
He said governance was driven by strategy, not sentiment, noting that President Tinubu and the APC remained focused on building a Nigeria that worked – one port, one project and one policy at a time.
‘’The opposition can continue to cry from the sidelines; the train of progress has already left the station.’’
