NDC questions Tinubu’s fresh Ibom seaport approval

The Nigeria Democratic Congress on Sunday accused President Bola Tinubu of turning the proposed Ibom Deep Sea Port into a campaign tool, questioning why the Federal Government was announcing a fresh approval for a project it said had been approved by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.

The opposition party alleged that the multi-billion-dollar project had repeatedly been used to win political support in Akwa Ibom State.

Tinubu announced the approval of the long-awaited port project on Friday during a reception and rally organised in his honour at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The President was in the state to inaugurate projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration when the governor appealed for the Federal Government’s intervention in the seaport project.

However, in a statement made available to journalists, the NDC National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, questioned the rationale behind the fresh approval, insisting that the project had already received Federal Executive Council approval in December 2020.

The party recalled that the Buhari administration had, at its December 16, 2020, meeting, approved the implementation of the first phase of the $4.6bn Ibom Deep Sea Port project, with Bollore/Power China named as the preferred bidder.

The party said the approval was expected to pave the way for the commencement of construction.

The NDC also recalled that Tinubu, while campaigning as the APC presidential candidate at the party’s campaign rally in Uyo on January 30, 2023, had promised to build the seaport.

Director said, “What a hocus-pocus, what hogwash, and what barefaced lies and shenanigans of a rudderless party! How many times will the APC approve the Ibom Deep Sea Port?”

Describing Friday’s announcement as another attempt to secure political support ahead of the 2027 elections, the NDC spokesman expressed doubts that the project would be delivered.

“Obviously, this is another round of cheap promises that will not be kept or honoured. Just as before, so it will be now — empty promises. All talk and no action.

“As Nigerians are still waiting for the APC and President Tinubu to give us uninterrupted electricity supply, so Akwa Ibomites are waiting endlessly for the promised deep sea port that has become a campaign tool of deceit,” the statement said.