Danish shipping and logistics company, Maersk, has refuted claims by the Nigerian Presidency that it has secured a $600 million investment deal for Nigerian ports. According to Lloyd’s List, Maersk officials confirmed that no such agreement is in place, and no deals have been signed.
Presidency’s Claim
On Sunday, the Nigerian Presidency issued a statement claiming that Maersk’s Chairman, Robert Maersk Uggla, had announced the investment during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The statement quoted Uggla as saying, “We believe in Nigeria, and we will invest $600 million in existing facilities and make the ports accommodating for bigger ships.”
Maersk’s Response
However, Maersk has denied any knowledge of such a deal. In a statement to Lloyd’s List, the company said, “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 to 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.”
No Deal Signed
Despite the presidential statement, Maersk officials confirmed that no deal has been signed, and Uggla’s meeting with President Tinubu was only a routine discussion.
Nigerian Government’s Plans
The Nigerian government has promised to revamp its ports, including in Lagos, to ease congestion. President Tinubu claimed that the purported Maersk investment would complement the government’s ongoing $1 billion investment in seaport reconstruction across the eastern and western seaports of Nigeria.
Discrepancy in Claims
The denial by Maersk raises questions about the accuracy of the Nigerian Presidency’s statement. The company’s response suggests that no such deal exists, contradicting the presidency’s claims.
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