Kenneth Okonkwo, a renowned Nollywood actor and Labour Party (LP) leader, has stated unequivocally that investment in a country is contingent upon the presence of security and energy.
This statement was made in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding the claim by the presidential team that A.P Moller-Maersk, a Danish shipping and logistics company, intends to invest $600 million in Nigeria’s seaport infrastructure.
The presidential media team had previously released a statement asserting that Bola Tinubu had secured this investment at a World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh. However, Maersk officials, in a statement to Lloyds List, a long-standing journal, denied the existence of a signed deal. They emphasized that while discussions with the Nigerian government were ongoing, no definitive investment plans had been made.
In response to numerous media reports denying such a significant investment in Nigeria, Dada Olusegun, Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, posted on his social media handle that the company has not refuted the Federal Government’s statements.
Kenneth Okonkwo expressed his dissatisfaction with the inconsistency in the dissemination of information by the presidential media team. He also brought up the misleading information about the restoration of the Dubai visa that made headlines in 2023, among other falsehoods propagated by the current administration.
Okonkwo criticized the government for its reliance on propaganda and misinformation. He pointed out the denial by Maersk of any plans to invest $600m as an example of the government’s lack of understanding. He expressed concern over the depreciation of Maersk’s shares at the prospect of investing in Nigeria, stating that the government has tarnished the country’s reputation among nations. He concluded by reiterating that no one will invest in a country lacking security and energy, and called for an end to the lies.
