President Bola Tinubu approves the long-awaited Ibom Deep Seaport project in Akwa Ibom State, announcing the decision during a reception and rally in Uyo after a request from Governor Umo Eno. Multiple outlets report the approval is presented as a response to the state’s appeal to the federal government to deliver the facility, which Eno frames as a major economic priority and a driver for maritime trade, investment and jobs.
However, opposition figures question the timing and basis of the decision. Nigerian Eye, Daily Post Nigeria, Punch and Vanguard all report criticism from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) that the project has been approved previously, including by former President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2020. Premium Times adds a further layer, reporting that Eno says Tinubu’s fresh approval would enable a sovereign guarantee for investors, while raising uncertainties about who the investor is, the terms, whether the guarantee will require an additional Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval, and whether any taxpayer liabilities could result.
Across the coverage, outlets broadly agree on the existence of a new federal approval and on the NDC’s dispute that earlier approvals did not lead to construction. The main differences concern emphasis on governance and financing details versus the campaign-politics framing.
