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By Adejoke Adeleye
The Ogun State Government has defended the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Seaport project against criticism by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate for Ogun East, Alhaji Abdul-Hameed Omotayo, who described it as “another broken promise”.
The government, in a statement issued on Saturday, dismissed the remark as a distortion of facts and an attempt to politicise a major investment initiative expected to boost the state’s maritime, industrial and employment prospects.
The statement, signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, said agreements covering the proposed deep seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone were signed with global port operator DP World in Paris on September 24, 2026.
According to the government, the agreements were signed in the presence of President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Abubakar Dantsoho, and DP World Group Chief Executive Officer, Yuvraj Narayan.
It also cited a statement from the State House, signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, which put the initial investment at more than $7 billion and projected the creation of 50,000 direct jobs.
Akinmade argued that the project should be assessed against the agreements reached, investment commitments and verifiable implementation milestones, rather than dismissed on partisan grounds.
He acknowledged that signing an investment agreement was an important step but noted that financing arrangements, regulatory approvals and construction would be necessary before the project could be completed.
The government said the proposed development could expand industrial activities, strengthen maritime infrastructure, attract businesses and create employment opportunities across Ogun State.
It also criticised Omotayo’s boast that he would defeat Abiodun before noon on election day, describing it as political bravado that did not address substantive development issues.
Akinmade further questioned the PDP’s political standing, citing the exclusion of its governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and his running mate from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final list for the 2027 Ogun governorship election.
On infrastructure, the government said the Abiodun administration had constructed and rehabilitated more than 243.3 kilometres of roads in Ogun East since 2019, contributing to a statewide total exceeding 1,600 kilometres across the state’s 20 local government areas.
Projects cited included the Ijebu-Ode–Mojoda–Epe Road, Sagamu–Iperu–Ode–Sapaade Road, Ejirin–Idowa–Ibefun–Itokin Road, Tam Balogun Road and Imodi–Imosan Road.
The administration also highlighted the approval of the J4–Gao Road in Ogun Waterside, the reported delivery of more than 150 blocks of classrooms, primary healthcare interventions and the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport at Iperu-Remo.
“These are tangible development interventions whose details can be examined and verified. The debate should be about facts, project delivery and the future of Ogun East, not unsupported allegations,” Akinmade said.
The government maintained that the deep seaport and special economic zone could strengthen logistics, trade and private-sector investment, while urging political stakeholders to distinguish between project announcements, signed agreements and actual implementation.
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