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On 4th September 2024, ROUNDCHECK found a viral claim made by Reno Omokri, a Social influencer, on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account.
The full text of the claim reads: “Today, Lagos signed a contract with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to build the Lekki-Epe Bridge. This is the same Lagos that just finished the Red Line, already has a Blue Line, and is about to start a Green Line. The same Lagos that they asked you to invest in at your own peril.
Akwa-Ibom has built its state-owned Ibom Deep Sea Port and has one of the most profitable airlines in Africa, Ibom Air, which flies out of its state-owned airport.
Ondo is building its own $1 billion state-owned port and has reduced poverty faster than any state in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
So, I ask you again, Other than dancing Gwo, Gwo, Gwo, Ngwo, what has your own state Governor achieved?
#TableShaker”
ROUNDCHECK Findings
Claim One:
Reno Omokiri claims “Lagos signed a contract with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to build the Lekki-Epe Bridge. This is the same Lagos that just finished the Red Line, already has a Blue Line, and is about to start a Green Line. The same Lagos that they asked you to invest in at your own peril.”
On 4th September 2024 Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the construction of the Lekki-Epe Bridge and the implementation of solar power systems across the tertiary institutions in the State, which includes Lagos State University and its campuses, Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Lagos State University of Education, and Lagos State College of Medicine.
On this same day, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government and China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), a Chinese company for the Green Line Rail Project. According to the Lagos state government, “the rail line will link Marina, Victoria Island, and the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and aims to enhance transportation in the Lekki corridor. The project will significantly reduce travel time, ease traffic congestion, and support economic growth within the Lagos metropolis and its surrounding areas.”
Impact of Lagos Red and Blue Rail Lines on Transportation
The Lagos Red and Blue Line rail projects have significantly transformed transportation in the city. The Blue Line, running from Marina to Mile 2, carries thousands of passengers daily, while the recently commissioned Red Line, which spans from Agbado to Oyingbo, is expected to transport 250,000 passengers per day. These lines reduce road congestion, cut travel times, and integrate with other transport systems like Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and ferry services, enhancing the overall efficiency of Lagos’ transportation network.
Verdict:
The claim about the Lekki-Epe Bridge is CORRECT. As of September 4th, 2024, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the bridge’s construction while the Green Line Rail project contract was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), confirming Reno Omokri’s statement.
Additionally, the Lagos Red and Blue Line rail projects have significantly improved transportation, reducing congestion, cutting travel times, and integrating with other systems like BRT and ferries.
The Red Line is expected to transport 250,000 passengers daily, further enhancing the city’s transit network.
Claim Two
“Akwa-Ibom has built its state-owned Ibom Deep Sea Port and has one of the most profitable airlines in Africa, Ibom Air, which flies out of its state-owned airport.”
Akwa-Ibom Airline and Ibom Deep Sea Port
The Ibom Deep Seaport, a federal government project driven by the Nigerian Port Authority and Federal Ministry of Transport in collaboration with Akwa-Ibom state, is set to revolutionize Nigeria’s maritime industry. This project received the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approving the Outline Business Case in May 2015 and was designed to accommodate mega vessels capable of carrying over 13,000 containers in a single voyage, the port will serve as a transshipment hub, with smaller vessels redistributing cargo to nearby sea and river ports, both domestically and internationally. Global Maritime & Port Services PTE Limited is leading the project’s transaction, poised to transform the region’s economic landscape.
ROUNDCHECK discovered the project to be under construction and not completed as claimed by Reno Omokiri.
Ibom Air, established by the Akwa Ibom State Government, began domestic passenger and cargo services in June 2019 after receiving its Air Operator’s Certificate in May of the same year. Ibom Air operates alongside the state’s Victor Attah International Airport and a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility, focusing solely on domestic flights.
From ROUNDCHECK research, Ibom Air is a domestic Airline in Nigeria at the time of collating this report.
Verdict
Reno Omokri’s claim about the Ibom Deep Sea Port is MISLEADING. While the Ibom Deep Seaport project was approved in May 2015, it remains under construction and not fully operational.
Claim Three:
“Ondo is building its own $1 billion state-owned port and has reduced poverty faster than any state in Nigeria, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.”
Ondo Port
Contrary to claims by Reno Omokri, the Ondo State port in Nigeria remains under construction despite former President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of a $1 billion seaport project in the state, the port’s absence from the Nigeria Port Authority’s list of major ports raises questions about its status. The list includes the Lagos Port Complex, Tin Can Island Port Complex, Calabar Port Complex, Delta Ports, Rivers Port Complex, and Onne Port Complex, but notably excludes Ondo Port. Late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Senator Tayo Oke had hailed the project as a game-changer for the region’s economy, promising job creation, infrastructure improvement, and investment attraction. However, the project’s progress remains uncertain.
In a report published on November 17, 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlighted the significant variation in poverty levels across states in Nigeria. The report revealed that the incidence of multidimensional poverty ranges from a low of 27% in Ondo State to a high of 91% in Sokoto State. The statistics qualify Ondo State to be one of the reduced-poverty states in Nigeria based on five components: health, living standards, education, security, and unemployment. The incomplete port located in the state was not considered a contributing factor to these figures.
Verdict
Reno Omokri’s claim about the Ondo Port is MISLEADING. Despite assertions of a $1 billion seaport project, the port remains under construction and incomplete, and it is absent from the Nigeria Port Authority’s list of major ports. This contradicts Omokri’s claims and casts doubt on the project’s progress and viability.
Furthermore, the NBS report on poverty levels, based on health, living standards, education, security, and unemployment, does not account for the incomplete port, making Omokri’s claim an overstatement of the project’s status and impact.
