Nigeria: 2027 - Obi Promises to Begin Construction of Ibom Deep Seaport If Elected President

What the report says

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has promised to begin construction of the long-delayed Ibom Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom State if elected president. The pledge, reported by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, came in a Facebook post after Obi’s visit to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, where he attended a homecoming event for senator Seriake Dickson.

Obi said his administration would also pursue upgrades to ports in Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar, while backing a new port for Bayelsa to better serve riverine communities in the Niger Delta. The seaport project, also known as the Ibaka Deep Seaport, has been on the agenda for years but has not moved beyond planning stages.

The promise places Obi alongside President Bola Tinubu, who also pledged support for the project during the 2023 campaign and later repeated assurances after taking office. Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno has previously said the president encouraged the state to submit a memorandum seeking federal backing. Premium Times said Obi did not provide a timeline, financing plan or implementation details.

The article noted that the seaport is seen as strategically important because it could expand export capacity, support trade and industrial development, and create jobs in the coastal area. It is a recurring campaign issue in Akwa Ibom and a symbol of broader infrastructure promises in the Niger Delta.