The PEER Foundation has urged President Bola Tinubu to refrain from using the Ibom Deep Seaport project as a political bargaining chip in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. The civil society organization argues that the development of the port should not be treated as a reward for electoral support, but rather as a strategic national asset.
In a statement titled "2027: Don’t use Ibom Deep Seaport for political bargain, CSO tells Tinubu," the foundation emphasized that the people of Akwa Ibom State have a legitimate claim to federal infrastructure investment. This claim, the organization asserts, is grounded in the state's significant contribution to national revenue.
The PEER Foundation’s intervention highlights the tension between political patronage and equitable resource allocation in Nigeria. By linking major infrastructure projects to electoral outcomes, the CSO warns that the government risks undermining the integrity of public investment and the trust of citizens in states that contribute substantially to the federal coffers.
The organization’s comments come as the federal government continues to push for the completion of the Ibom Deep Seaport, a project intended to enhance Nigeria’s maritime capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign ports. The foundation insists that the justification for the project must remain rooted in economic necessity and national development goals, rather than political expediency.
This stance aligns with broader calls from various stakeholders in Nigeria for transparency and fairness in the distribution of federal resources. As the 2027 election cycle approaches, the debate over how infrastructure projects are prioritized and justified is likely to intensify, with civil society groups playing a key role in holding the administration accountable.
<small>Source: Premium Times Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
