APC Defends Lagos Port Investment: A Smart Economic Move, Not Sabotage!

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the ridiculous claim made by the opposition that “neglecting Warri, Calabar, Onne, and Port Harcourt ports while spending $1 billion on Lagos port” constitutes economic sabotage.

It stated that such a reckless assertion merely highlights the opposition’s profound misunderstanding of fundamental economics and governance.

Mogaji Seye Oladejo, the spokesperson for the state branch of the party, remarked that the opposition's loud statements are seldom backed by facts, figures, or even a basic grasp of national policy direction.

Pointing out that the opposition lacks the motivation to educate themselves, Oladejo asserted that the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is not “neglecting” any port.

In a signed statement, Oladejo stated: “The $1 billion investment in the Lagos Deep Sea Port is part of a comprehensive modernization strategy aimed at establishing Nigeria as West Africa’s leading maritime hub.

“It is not merely a Lagos initiative – it is a national project, attracting foreign direct investment from China Harbour Engineering Company and Singapore’s Tolaram Group, both of which recognize President Tinubu’s vision as a conducive business environment worthy of their investments.

“Meanwhile, the same administration is undertaking the following initiatives: modernization of Onne Port, including equipment upgrades and digitalization; dredging of Calabar Port to enhance draft depth and accommodate larger vessels; rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Port complex under a new concessionary framework; and expansion of the Warri Port corridor with new rail link integration to facilitate inland cargo movement.

“However, the opposition remains oblivious to these developments – they are too preoccupied with spreading misinformation and recycling outdated political rhetoric.”

Oladejo emphasized that the $1 billion investment in the Lagos Port is not “sabotage”; rather, it is a demonstration of economic foresight.

“It is about creating jobs, enhancing exports, and eliminating decades of inefficiency that have made Nigerian ports among the most expensive in Africa,” he explained.

Oladejo noted that the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Nigeria’s first fully automated port, is already transforming port management, improving turnaround times, and increasing revenue for government coffers, adding: “This is the kind of progress that threatens those whose only political skill is to complain without offering solutions.”

“The only sabotage occurring here is the opposition’s attempt to exploit regional sentiments against national advancement. The real tragedy is not their lack of understanding of economics – it’s their unwillingness to learn.”