The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State has defended the Federal Government’s one billion dollar investment in Lagos ports, describing it as an integral component of a comprehensive national modernisation strategy.
Mr Seye Oladejo, the party’s spokesman, issued a statement on Tuesday addressing criticisms from opposition parties regarding the infrastructure project.
According to Oladejo, the investment forms part of a broader initiative aimed at positioning Nigeria as the leading maritime hub in West Africa.
The spokesman dismissed allegations from opposition quarters that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has prioritised Lagos ports whilst overlooking facilities in Warri, Calabar, Onne, and Port Harcourt, characterising such claims as uninformed.
“This reckless statement only exposes, yet again, the opposition’s chronic ignorance of basic economics and governance,” Oladejo stated. “Their loud opinions are rarely backed by facts, figures, or even a faint understanding of national policy direction.”
He emphasised that the initiative represents a national infrastructure development programme rather than a regional undertaking, attracting significant foreign direct investment from China Harbour Engineering Company and Singapore’s Tolaram Group.
Oladejo highlighted that the current administration has simultaneously undertaken modernisation efforts across multiple port facilities nationwide.
These include the Onne Port modernisation project, which encompasses equipment upgrades and digitalisation initiatives, as well as dredging operations at Calabar Port designed to increase draft depth and accommodate larger vessels.
The spokesman further noted ongoing rehabilitation work at the Port Harcourt Port complex under a revised concessionary framework, alongside the Warri Port corridor expansion featuring new rail link integration to facilitate 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 remarked.
Oladejo characterised the Lagos Port investment as a strategic economic decision focused on employment generation, export enhancement, and addressing longstanding inefficiencies that have contributed to Nigerian ports being amongst the most expensive on the continent.
He cited the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s first fully automated port facility, as evidence of transformative progress, noting improvements in turnaround times and increased government revenue.
“It is the kind of progress that threatens those whose only skill in politics is complaining without contributing,” the spokesman added. “The only sabotage here is the opposition’s attempt to weaponise regional sentiments against national progress.”
Oladejo maintained that the Renewed Hope Agenda represents a nationwide vision rather than regional preferential treatment, asserting that the administration’s approach encompasses all regions of the country.
He stressed that governance under the current administration is guided by strategic planning rather than political sentiment, with President Tinubu and the APC remaining committed to systematic national development across various sectors.
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