A civil society group, the Ibom Peoples’ Empowerment and Ecosystem Restoration Foundation (PEER Foundation), has criticized President Bola Tinubu for linking the planned Ibom Deep Seaport to electoral support. They say the project should not be used for political deals.
The foundation stated that Akwa Ibom contributed about N29.33 trillion to the national treasury from oil and gas resources between 1999 and 2025. However, it received only N3.814 trillion as its 13 percent derivation allocation during this time.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Uyo, the foundation’s Executive Director, Mfon Gabriel, said the state's contribution to national revenue strengthens its claim for federal infrastructure investment. This should be true no matter how residents vote.
This statement comes after Mr. Tinubu visited Akwa Ibom on November 6. He approved the long-awaited seaport project during an All Progressives Congress campaign rally.
“Will you vote for me? If you vote for me, then the Seaport is yours,” the president told the crowd.
The foundation found this remark inappropriate. They argued that access to federally funded infrastructure should not depend on how people vote.
“National infrastructure funded by collective federal revenue, such as the Ibom Deep Seaport, should benefit all citizens regardless of voting behavior,” the organization said.
They criticized the president for presenting the seaport as a new presidential deal. They reminded everyone that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under former President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the project’s first phase in December 2020.
The foundation said the president should explain why the project has not moved to construction yet, despite the earlier approval and his promise to build the seaport during his 2023 campaign in Akwa Ibom.
PREMIUM TIMES reported on Monday that the December 2020 FEC approval covered the project’s first phase, which is estimated to cost $2.016 billion out of a total expected cost of $4.6 billion.
The financing plan originally had private investors covering 60 percent of the first-phase funding, while the public sector would cover the remaining 40 percent.
However, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom explained that Mr. Tinubu’s recent statement refers to a proposed sovereign guarantee. This would help reassure potential investors and attract financing for the project.
The governor mentioned that investors want the Federal Government’s guarantee before they invest. But he warned that the president’s declaration does not mean construction will start right away.
PEER Foundation questioned why the federal government has not prioritized this project while investing in other maritime projects.
They pointed out the Federal Government’s £746 million UK Export Finance deal for the rehabilitation of the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos. This was signed by President Tinubu during his meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on March 19.
They also highlighted a planned investment partnership between the Ogun State Government and Dubai-based logistics firm DP World, worth over $7 billion, announced in September.
The foundation argued that these actions raise doubts about the federal government’s commitment to the Ibom Deep Seaport, especially since the first phase needs about $2.016 billion.
They said the project has major economic benefits beyond Akwa Ibom. It could help ease congestion at Lagos ports, boost maritime trade in the Gulf of Guinea, and improve economic ties in the region.
The proposed port's natural water depth of 17.5 meters would allow it to take large vessels. Its location could also help shipping connections with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Republic of the Congo.
They described the project as a chance to diversify Nigeria’s revenue sources, create jobs, and support the African Continental Free Trade Area goals.
The foundation urged Mr. Tinubu to push for the financial commitments and sovereign guarantees needed to start the first phase of the project. They said it should not depend on the results of the 2027 elections.
They also asked the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and the National Assembly to make sure the project gets support and is kept away from political games.
“Concrete action is a far stronger commitment than campaign promises,” they said.
The Ibom Deep Seaport has been in the works for over 20 years but has not been built despite promises from both federal and state governments.
It has been a political topic in Akwa Ibom, mainly due to worries about the state's ability to attract investors and secure funding.
In January 2023, Mr. Tinubu promised to help with the project during his presidential campaign in Uyo. Recently, Mr. Eno, who switched from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC, asked the president to support the seaport. He pledged to deliver two million votes for him in the 2027 election if the project gets done.
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