By Myke Uzendu
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the proposed Ibom Deep Sea Port project as a campaign promise, questioning why President Bola Tinubu was making fresh commitments on a project it said had already received Federal Government approval in 2020.
The party, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, Esq., described Tinubu’s latest promise to facilitate the construction of the port as a repetition of an unfulfilled commitment made during the 2023 presidential campaign.
It recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under former President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the implementation of the first phase of the $4.6 billion Ibom Deep Sea Port project at its meeting on December 16, 2020.
According to the NDC, the approval named Bollore/Power China as the preferred bidder and was expected to pave the way for construction to commence.
The party also recalled that Tinubu, while campaigning as the APC presidential candidate at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on January 30, 2023, promised to construct the port.
It quoted the President as telling supporters: “We will do mechanised farming. We will export food from Akwa Ibom. We will build your seaport.”
The NDC said it was therefore surprising that Tinubu had again promised the construction of the project during his visit to Akwa Ibom State on Friday, November 6, 2026, more than three years after making the initial campaign pledge.
Describing the latest commitment as another round of unfulfilled promises, the party questioned how many times the APC would announce approval or promise the same project without visible progress towards its completion.
In its statement titled “APC’s Endless Lies and Deceit: How Many Times Will APC Approve Ibom Deep Sea Port?”, the party accused the ruling party of turning the project into a campaign tool.
It argued that the repeated promises had raised questions about the administration’s commitment to delivering major infrastructure projects, particularly those expected to create jobs, stimulate trade and strengthen economic activities in the South-South region.
