By Ademola Adekusibe
October 29, 2025
The Federal Government has fired back at Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, describing his recent comments on the $1 billion seaport modernisation project as another display of poor understanding of national development planning.
Obi had claimed that the approval for the upgrade of Apapa and TinCan Island ports was proof that the federal government was neglecting other ports across the country.
But the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy dismissed his remarks as misleading and shallow, noting that the port modernisation initiative is not limited to Lagos but extends across Nigeria’s coastal regions.
According to Bolaji Akinola, spokesperson to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, ongoing projects also cover ports in Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, and Onne, alongside new deep seaport developments in Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states.
Government sources said Obi’s comments reflect more emotion than understanding, describing his approach as “reactionary politics from a man too focused on social media relevance to grasp the scope of national infrastructure reform.”
Officials also recalled that as governor of Anambra State, Obi failed to make any meaningful impact in maritime development, yet now criticises genuine efforts to reposition the sector.
“The Federal Government is focused on building a modern, efficient maritime economy, not playing to the gallery or responding to politicians whose only legacy is online agitation,” the statement added.
