Presidency deletes fake post that claimed it secured $600m seaport investment deal from Maersk

Maureen Aguta

The Nigerian presidency found itself embroiled in controversy after a tweet from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, falsely claimed a significant investment deal in the country’s port sector.

The now-deleted tweet had stated that global shipping giant AP Mollar-Maersk was set to invest $600 million in Nigeria’s port infrastructure

In a statement released by the presidential media team which Onanuga shared on X, it was claimed that the investment was secured during a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh over the weekend.

It was disclosed that A.P Moller-Maersk chairman Robert Maersk Uggla had discussed the investment with president Tinubu on the sidelines of a meeting discussing energy development and growth. The statement even included a direct quote attributed to Uggla saying: “We believe in Nigeria, and we will invest $600 million in existing facilities and make the ports accommodating for bigger ships”.

However Lloyds List, one of the world’s oldest continuously running journals, had reported that the claim appears to be “news” to Maersk officials.

Maersk also stated that such deal does not exist. Company officials said while Uggla did meet the president, no such deal had been signed.

“Maersk has been present in Nigeria for 35 years and, as a global provider of logistics services, we remain committed to develop opportunities for growth to people, the port sector and businesses locally,” the company said in a statement to Lloyd’s List.

“Therefore, it is natural to have an ongoing dialogue with the administration. However, we are not able to comment on any investment talks.”