Tinubu flags off Bakassi seaport in Cross River

President Bola Tinubu has officially launched the construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport in Cross River State, emphasizing the project's strategic importance for Nigeria’s maritime trade and economic growth. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bakassi, Tinubu highlighted how the port would expand commercial corridors, boost industries, and generate employment opportunities across the region.

The seaport, conceived in 2014, boasts a 20-meter draft, enabling it to accommodate large vessels, and will be linked to a 260-kilometer superhighway to facilitate the smooth transportation of goods to markets throughout Nigeria. Tinubu clarified that the port would complement rather than compete with Lagos, which currently handles over 80% of Nigeria's foreign trade, thereby ensuring that no region bears the burden of carrying all the nation's trade on its own.

He also noted that while 90% of global cargo moves by sea, Nigeria currently only handles a small fraction of regional trade despite its economic size. The project, which has undergone significant advancements under Governor Bassey Otu since its conception, is designed to diversify Nigeria’s maritime gateways, enhance access to international markets, and improve the country's competitiveness in regional trade.

Tinubu recognized the state’s historical losses following the Bakassi peninsula ruling and the loss of oil revenue, urging residents to protect the project from political interference. Governor Otu described the event as a historic milestone, acknowledging the Federal Government’s support in reviving the project amid various challenges.

The seaport, once completed, will create jobs in logistics, trade, fishing, shipping, tourism, and shipbuilding, positioning Cross River as a key maritime hub in the Gulf of Guinea.