By Kazeem Waris
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the proposed Ibom Deep Sea Port as a campaign promise without delivering on previous commitments, asking how many times the Federal Government would approve the project before construction begins.
The opposition party, in a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described President Bola Tinubu’s latest promise to construct the port as another round of political assurances, recalling that the project had received Federal Government approval under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2020.
The NDC’s reaction followed Tinubu’s reported promise during his November 6, 2026 visit to Akwa Ibom State to facilitate the construction of the long-awaited port.
Titled ‘APC’s Endless Lies and Deceit: How Many Times Will APC Approve Ibom Deep Sea Port?’, the statement questioned why the project was being presented as a fresh commitment despite earlier government approvals.
According to the party, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, approved the implementation of the first phase of the $4.6 billion Ibom Deep Sea Port project at its meeting on December 16, 2020, with Bollore/Power China named as the preferred bidder.
The party said the approval was expected to pave the way for construction to commence.
It also recalled that Tinubu, then presidential candidate of the APC, promised to build the port during the party’s campaign rally at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on January 30, 2023.
At the rally, Tinubu reportedly told supporters: “We will do mechanised farming. We will export food from Akwa Ibom. We will build your seaport.”
Questioning the repeated promises, the NDC said: “How many times will the APC approve the Ibom Deep Sea Port?”
Describing the latest commitment as another unfulfilled political promise, the party accused the APC of turning the project into a campaign instrument rather than demonstrating concrete progress towards its implementation.
“What a hocus-pocus, what hogwash, and what barefaced lies and shenanigans of a rudderless party!” the statement declared.
The NDC argued that Akwa Ibom residents had waited for years for the project to become reality, adding that repeated announcements without visible implementation had raised questions about the Federal Government’s commitment.
Drawing parallels with other national campaign promises, the opposition party also criticised the APC over electricity supply, saying Nigerians were still waiting for uninterrupted power.
It urged Nigerians to reject what it described as political deceit and support its campaign for a new Nigeria.
The party concluded: “A new Nigeria is possible with NDC.”
