A.P Moller-Maersk, a Danish shipping and logistics company, has declined to comment on news reports of a proposed investment of $600 million in Nigeria’s seaport infrastructure.
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Bola Tinubu and the company’s Chairman, Robert Uggla, held a closed-door meeting on Sunday.
Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, issued a statement titled ‘President Tinubu meets Chairman of Danish shipping giant Maersk; secures $600 million investment in Nigerian seaport infrastructure,’ quoting Uggla as stating, “We believe in Nigeria, and we will invest $600m in existing facilities and make the ports accommodating for bigger ships.”
Tinubu had indicated that the investment would complement the government’s $1 billion investment in seaport reconstruction across Nigeria’s eastern and western seaports.
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However, the company subsequently issued a statement to Lloyd’s List, a global maritime insight, data, and analytics website, stating, “Maersk has been present in Nigeria for 35 years and, as a global provider of logistics services, we remain committed to developing opportunities for growth for people, the port sector and businesses locally.
“Therefore, it is natural to have an ongoing dialogue with the administration. However, we are not able to comment on any investment talks.”
Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, clarified that the company has not denied the Federal Government of Nigeria’s statements and that it is the media’s headline that has caused controversy.
Olusegun added that Maersk has not contradicted or denied the government’s statements.
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