{
  "id": 19856301,
  "title": "Tinubu flags off Bakassi deep seaport",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/tinubu-flags-off-bakassi-deep-seaport",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T18:13:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/tinubu-flags-off-bakassi-deep-seaport/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marked the groundbreaking of the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a pivotal moment in Nigeria's economic diversification. Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the ceremony in Bakassi on November 13, 2026, the President emphasized the port's potential to create new commercial corridors, boost industrialization, and generate employment opportunities. Tinubu praised Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State and the populace for their unwavering support in bringing the vision to fruition. He recalled that the project's groundwork was laid in 2014, with a thorough Environmental and Social Impact Assessment completed in March 2015, before gaining renewed momentum under Otu's stewardship. The seaport, designed to accommodate vessels with a 20-meter draft, is set to handle larger ships that currently circumvent Nigerian ports. It is also connected to a 260-kilometer superhighway for efficient cargo transport nationwide. Tinubu credited Otu's determination for overcoming institutional and financial hurdles, including securing a $3.5 billion financing agreement from the Afreximbank and formalizing the Public-Private Partnership framework in February 2025. He emphasized that the port would complement, not compete with, Lagos, highlighting that Lagos handles 90% of Nigeria's foreign trade and is crucial for avoiding congestion and rising costs. The President underscored that Nigeria had not maximized its Gulf of Guinea coastline and that neighboring countries benefited from maritime trade that Nigerian ports could attract. By closing the gap in regional cargo trade, the Bakassi project would strengthen the nation's maritime competitiveness. Tinubu acknowledged Cross River's losses following the Bakassi peninsula ruling and the loss of oil revenue but assured that the people's spirit remained unbroken. He urged residents to protect the project from political meddling and recognize it as their legacy for future generations. Governor Bassey Otu hailed the groundbreaking as a testament to President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, which provided the federal backing needed to revive the project. He acknowledged the numerous challenges, including political, administrative, legal, and environmental issues, that had stalled the implementation. Otu described Tinubu as a champion of economic diversification and social equity, crediting him for obtaining federal approval and guiding Cross River through the necessary processes. The governor highlighted that the state had completed preparatory work, including hydrographic, geotechnical, and geophysical surveys, and secured federal approvals. The project, which is to be delivered through a Public-Private Partnership arrangement with an initial funding approval of $2.27 billion, will benefit various sectors, including logistics, trade, fishing, shipping, tourism, and shipbuilding. Cross River aims to become a significant maritime hub along the Gulf of Guinea, bolstering the nation's economic prospects.",
  "summary": "President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the groundbreaking of the Bakassi Deep Seaport as a defining milestone in Nigeria’s economic diversification, describing it as a strategic national investment. Represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the ceremony in Bakassi on Friday, November 13, 2026, the President said the port would open new commercial corridors, stimulate industrialisation…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Tinubu flags off Bakassi seaport in Cross River",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/tinubu-flags-off-bakassi-seaport-in-cross-river",
        "published": "2026-11-13T17:50:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}