Dangote moves deeper into shipping with 10,000-hectare deep-sea port project in Ogun

Africa’s richest man's industrial empire, Dangote Industries Limited has begun preliminary work on a massive deep-sea port project in Nigeria’s Olokola Free Trade Zone, marking the conglomerate’s latest move to expand beyond manufacturing into maritime logistics and export infrastructure.

• Dangote Industries has begun preliminary work on a proposed 10,000-hectare deep-sea port in Nigeria’s Olokola Free Trade Zone.
• The project is designed to support exports of fertiliser, petrochemicals, refined fuel and future LNG shipments.
• The company says the port will reduce pressure on Nigeria’s congested seaports while boosting regional trade under AfCFTA.
• Community leaders and Nigerian Navy officials in Ogun and Ondo states have pledged support for the multi-billion-dollar project.

The proposed port, which will cover more than 10,000 hectares along Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline, is expected to sit across parts of Ogun and Ondo states and serve as a major gateway for imports, exports and regional trade.

The company said the project forms part of its Vision 2030 strategy to position the group as a globally competitive industrial powerhouse while strengthening Nigeria’s role in African trade and supply chains.

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The development comes as Nigeria seeks to reduce pressure on overstretched ports in Lagos, including Apapa and Tin Can Island, which handle the bulk of the country’s cargo traffic but continue to face congestion, high logistics costs and infrastructure bottlenecks.

The proposed Olokola port is also expected to complement existing large-scale industrial assets built by the group, including the $20 billion refinery and petrochemical complex in Lagos, which has already reshaped fuel supply dynamics in Nigeria and parts of West Africa.

A delegation from Dangote Industries led by the Managing Director for Infrastructure and Logistics, Capt. Jamil Abubakar, visited host communities in Ogun and Ondo states to begin consultations ahead of the project’s execution.

“The Olokola Port project is a major step in opening up Nigeria’s economic potential, strengthening trade, reducing pressure on existing ports and supporting industrial growth,” Abubakar said.

“It will create real opportunities for host communities through jobs, business activities and long-term development across both Ogun and Ondo states.”

He added that the facility is being designed as a logistics hub for an integrated industrial ecosystem capable of supporting regional commerce and strengthening Africa’s supply chain network.

According to the company, the port is expected to support exports of fertilisers, petrochemicals and refined petroleum products, while also positioning Nigeria for future liquefied natural gas exports.

The infrastructure is also planned to handle heavy industrial equipment imports tied to manufacturing and energy projects.

The project revives long-standing ambitions for industrial development around the Olokola Free Trade Zone, an area that has attracted interest from major investors for more than a decade because of its strategic coastal location near Nigeria’s commercial corridor.

Dangote’s renewed push into maritime infrastructure also reflects a broader trend across Africa, where governments and private investors are investing heavily in ports and logistics facilities to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, which aims to boost intra-African trade.

Analysts say improved port infrastructure could help Nigeria lower export costs, increase non-oil trade and strengthen its position as a manufacturing and distribution hub for West Africa.

During the visit, Dangote officials, accompanied by surveyors and environmental consultants, visited the Ode-Omi community in Ogun State as well as the Araromi Seaside Kingdom and Igbokoda in Ondo State.

Traditional rulers in the affected communities welcomed the project and pledged support for its implementation.

“We have been expecting you for a long time. It is good that you are here today,” the Lenuwa of Ode-Omi, Oba Folailu Adekunle Hassan, told the delegation.

The monarch also approved the commencement of preliminary surveys, including household enumeration and compensation assessments for affected residents.

The Alara of Araromi Seaside Kingdom, Oba Adeoloye Olawole, also backed the project, saying the community was eager to see construction begin.

The Dangote delegation later visited the Nigerian Navy’s Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, where officials expressed support for the development, highlighting its potential economic importance.

Dangote Industries said the port project is expected to create jobs, attract foreign investment and stimulate sectors including logistics, manufacturing and services as Nigeria pushes to diversify its economy beyond crude oil exports.