Nigeria: Tinubu Repeats Ibom Deep Seaport Promise, Questions APC's 2020 Approval - NDC

What the report says

The Nigeria Democratic Congress has criticized President Bola Tinubu for renewing his pledge to build the Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom State, saying the project was already approved by the previous federal administration in 2020. The opposition party argued that the ruling All Progressives Congress is repeating campaign promises instead of showing concrete progress on a multibillion-dollar project it says should already be moving toward construction.

According to the report, Tinubu made the latest promise during a visit to Uyo on November 6, 2026. The NDC said this followed an earlier pledge during the APC’s 2023 presidential campaign in Akwa Ibom, when Tinubu reportedly said the port would be built alongside other development plans. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, accused the APC of using the seaport as an election message rather than a deliverable policy commitment.

The article says the NDC pointed to a December 16, 2020 Federal Executive Council approval under former President Muhammadu Buhari for the first phase of the $4.6 billion project, and noted that Bollore/Power China was identified as preferred bidder. The party asked why construction had not begun and why fresh assurances were still being issued. It also linked the port to broader economic hopes for Akwa Ibom, including trade, maritime activity and jobs, while urging voters to judge the APC by delivery rather than promises.