Nigeria is to get its largest sea port under new plans outlined by Aliko Dangote, head of the country’s Dangote conglomerate
The new port would be located at the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ) in Ogun State, Dangote said in remarks after a business meeting with the state’s governor this week.
“We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone, but because of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say we are back and are going to work with the government and return to Olokola,” he said.
“Plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country,” Dangote added.
He did not provide any further details on the scale of the project, nor its timing, however he noted that the group had already resumed work on the construction of a cement factory in Itori, with a capacity of 6 million metric tonnes per annum (mtpa).
According to reports, this project is expected to be completed by late 2026.
The group also has a 12 mtpa cement plant in Ibeshe, which Dangote said would combine to make Ogun the highest cement-producing state or region in Africa, with a combined output of 18 mtpa.
“With the contributions of other cement producers in the state, Ogun remains far ahead of other countries across Africa in terms of cement production,” he said.
If Dangote moves forward with its plans, it would mark the latest investment in Nigeria’s ports infrastructure following the construction of the new Lekki deep sea port, built alongside the Lekki Freeport Terminal, and the Lagos Free Zone.
At the end of 2024, Lekki marked the launch of Cosco, ONE (Ocean Network Express) and ZIM alliance marine services at Lekki with the arrival of the E A Centaurus vessel, a new milestone for the port.
With an overall length of 277 metres, and a container handling capacity of 7,000 TEU, E A Centaurus is the largest Cosco vessel so far to call Nigeria.
Nigeria’s other major ports include Lagos and Tin Can Island, both in Lagos State, Calabar in Cross River State, the Delta Ports in Warri, Delta State, and the Rivers port complex and Onne, both in Rivers State.
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Investment in Nigeria's ports gathers pace. (Image Source: Adobe Stock)
