Nigerian Ports Authority Chairman Senator Adedayo Adeyeye has defended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies while revealing he has operated without a functioning board for eleven months since his appointment. Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning Show, Adeyeye gave Tinubu a “99%” performance rating and described Nigeria’s economic transformation under the president’s leadership as nothing short of remarkable.
The former minister praised Tinubu’s decision to remove fuel subsidies and float the naira, calling these moves “extremely courageous” and “ingenious.” Adeyeye argued that Nigeria was “almost in ICU” when Tinubu took office, with the country unable to pay for fuel imports and effectively subsidizing neighboring nations. He credited the president’s policies with stabilizing the exchange rate and enabling state governments to pay salaries and invest in development projects for the first time in years.
However, Adeyeye’s tenure as NPA chairman has been marked by significant operational constraints. Appointed in July 2023, he disclosed that President Tinubu never constituted the full board complement, leaving him “partially effective” in addressing critical port challenges including congestion, access issues, and turnaround times. When pressed about the recent 15% increase in port charges that sparked protests, Adeyeye admitted he wasn’t briefed on the decision and couldn’t comment substantively. He revealed that while the president has now approved the board constitution, they await inauguration.
On Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, Adeyeye dismissed concerns about the ruling APC’s growing dominance as governors and politicians migrate to the party. He compared the situation to Singapore’s one-party dominance since 1965 and America’s two-party system, arguing that political consolidation around a performing leader is natural. Defending early campaign activities for 2027, he announced plans to relaunch his Southwest Agenda group’s campaign for Tinubu’s re-election, citing opposition coalition-building as justification for pro-government mobilization.
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