Rotimi Amaechi pledges infrastructure development and claims credit for Lekki Deep Seaport construction.
Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, has stated that his party will build the Gelegele Seaport and other deep seaports across Nigeria if elected into power.
Speaking on Thursday at an ADC stakeholders meeting in Edo State, the former Minister of Transportation responded to questions regarding future maritime development in the region.
During the event, Amaechi made several bold assertions regarding past infrastructure projects, according to information published by punchng.
Controversy Over Lekki Deep Seaport Construction History
Amaechi claimed that he personally oversaw the construction of the Lekki Deep Seaport from start to finish before resigning to run for the presidency.
He accused President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of taking undue credit for the project during its official commissioning ceremony.
According to the former Rivers State governor, the conceptual framework originated under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while the actual construction was officially approved and executed under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Future Plans for Gelegele and Regional Seaports
Addressing the economic viability of new maritime hubs, Amaechi stated that an ADC administration would prioritize the long-awaited development of the Gelegele Seaport in Edo State.
He explained that the previous administration under Muhammadu Buhari had also approved several other deep seaport projects in regions including Bonny, Akwa Ibom, and Warri.
However, financial hurdles and funding deficits prevented some of these strategic maritime initiatives from moving past the initial approval phase.
Funding Estimates for Proposed Nigerian Seaports
Amaechi assured stakeholders that reviving and initiating these critical port projects would not require an unmanageable financial burden on the federal budget.
He estimated that an initial capital investment between $400m and $500m would be sufficient to kickstart construction operations for the proposed seaports effectively.
Subsequent expansion phases could then be implemented gradually to ensure long-term commercial sustainability and regional economic growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Rotimi Amaechi build the Lekki Deep Seaport?
Rotimi Amaechi claimed he oversaw the Lekki Deep Seaport construction from start to finish as Minister of Transportation before resigning to contest the presidency.
What did Rotimi Amaechi say about Gelegele Seaport?
Amaechi vowed that an ADC government would prioritize the development of the Gelegele Seaport in Edo State and secure presidential approval.
How much would it cost to build the proposed seaports?
According to Amaechi, an investment between $400m and $500m would be enough to begin construction on the proposed Nigerian deep seaports.
