The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom will boost Nigeria’s economic outlook and pave the way for a £746 million port financing deal.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the party’s spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, said the trip is expected to deepen economic diplomacy and drive key infrastructure projects, especially within the maritime sector.

The APC noted that the visit will facilitate and formalise a £746 million financing arrangement involving UK Export Finance, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), and the Federal Ministry of Finance, aimed at rehabilitating major seaports across the country.

According to the party, the agreement will prioritise the upgrade of two major facilities, the Lagos Port Complex (Apapa Quays) and the Tin Can Island Port Complex, with the goal of modernising port infrastructure and enhancing trade operations.

It described the initiative as a major milestone in positioning Nigeria as a leading maritime hub in West Africa, while also stimulating economic growth.

The party added that the visit highlights the administration’s resolve to strengthen international partnerships in line with its broader economic reform agenda.

“The visit provides an important platform for high-level engagements with government officials, investors, and development partners on issues critical to Nigeria’s growth, including infrastructure development, energy transition, technology transfer, education, security collaboration, and opportunities for Nigerian businesses in global markets,” the statement read.

The Lagos APC further emphasised that the United Kingdom remains a longstanding economic partner and a vital ally in Nigeria’s development efforts.

It expressed optimism that the outcomes of the visit would attract increased foreign direct investment, enhance bilateral trade ties, and generate employment opportunities for citizens.

The party also pointed to President Tinubu’s history of leveraging international partnerships for development during his time as governor of Lagos State, noting that his current diplomatic engagements reflect that experience.

It urged Nigerians to see the visit as part of a broader nation-building strategy anchored on economic diplomacy, stressing that sustained global engagement is key to long-term prosperity.

The APC reaffirmed its belief that the visit will further strengthen Nigeria’s economic prospects and elevate its standing on the global stage.

Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra has directed all political appointees in the state to hand over their duties with immediate effect, barely 24 hours after his inauguration for a second term.

The directive is contained in a circular issued on Wednesday by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Nwabufor Nwankwo.

According to the circular, affected appointees are to hand over to Permanent Secretaries or, in their absence, the most senior civil servant in their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

It stated that the handover process must be completed on or before the close of work on the same day, pending the constitution of a new cabinet.

“I am directed to inform all political appointees to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior civil servant in the various MDAs on or before the close of work today, until a new cabinet is constituted,” the circular read.

The government also directed all first-term cabinet members to meet with the governor on March 23 at 10 a.m. at the Anambra State Executive Council Chambers.

The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Nwabufor Nwankwo.

Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Germany and former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has fired back at African Democratic Congress chieftain Dele Momodu over comments in which the latter likened President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the military regime of the late General Sani Abacha.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, Fani-Kayode described Momodu’s remarks as evidence of “a degenerating and worrisome level of cognitive dissonance,” saying his fellow commentator “sounded drained, tired and broken” during the interview.

Momodu had on Sunday, during an appearance on Channels Television, described Tinubu as a potential dictator whose administration some had already compared unfavourably to Abacha’s government.

“From what happened since 1999 when he became governor to 2007 when he left as governor of Lagos State, and then hijacked Lagos, since then till today, it was very clear to me that I didn’t need a prophet to tell me that we are dealing with a potential dictator if given the presidential ticket. Today, I don’t know how anybody would even describe this. Some people have even described this moment as being worse than that of Abacha government,” Momodu said.

Fani-Kayode, while expressing personal affection for Momodu, was withering in his assessment of the interview, suggesting his colleague needed a break from political commentary.

“I love Dele and God knows I have immense respect for him but he sounded drained, tired and broken and spoke little sense yesterday in his interview with Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV,” Fani-Kayode wrote, adding: “May I humbly suggest to him to try and take a break from politics and political commentary for a while, get his breath back and attempt to overhaul his intellectual engine?”

He accused Momodu of being disrespectful not only to the president but to the vice president, ministers, senators, and newly appointed ambassadors, many of whom he said possessed far greater governance experience than the ADC chieftain.

Turning his attention to the ADC itself, Fani-Kayode launched a blistering attack on the opposition party, dismissing it as wholly unprepared for the rigours of Nigerian politics.

“The ADC cannot even be described as a sinking ship but rather as a badly patched up inflatable plastic life boat that has not even managed to find its bearing or leave the harbour. It has no engine, no sails, no oars, no captain, no crew, no navigational equipment, no muscle, no firepower, no war chest, no destination,” he said.

He described the party’s membership as “vacuous, shallow, intellectual frauds and political renegades who lack foresight and who have no direction,” attributing the mass movement of political leaders to the APC not only to the performance of the president and vice president but to the public’s perception of the ADC as “a collection of disingenuous, desperate and recycled political losers.”

Despite the sharp criticism, Fani-Kayode urged Momodu to abandon the ADC and join the ruling party, comparing his presence in the opposition to “a gentle, beautiful, well bred, well fed and well manicured flamingo trapped in a sea of ugly, cruel, loud, angry, starving, cackling and relentless crows and vultures.

“I appeal to my brother Dele: leave the ranks of the forces of darkness and join us. You are far too good for the company you keep,” he concluded.