Dangote Moves to Build Nigeria’s Deepest Seaport in Ogun State

Aliko Dangote has revealed bold plans to construct Nigeria’s deepest and largest seaport. The billionaire businessman said his company submitted a request to the federal government in late June to begin work on the project.

According to him, the planned site is Olokola, a coastal town in Ogun State.

This proposed Atlantic seaport is designed to supercharge Dangote Group’s logistics and export capabilities.

It will sit about 100 kilometers from his fertilizer and petrochemical facilities in Lagos and aims to become a key part of his rapidly expanding industrial empire.

“We want to build the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria,” Dangote told Bloomberg in an interview.

“It’s not that we want to do everything alone, but we believe this kind of investment will inspire others to act too.”

The industrialist already uses a private jetty near his Lagos refinery to ship out fertilizer and import large equipment.

However, this new port will significantly boost his group’s export capacity, enabling it to compete with major hubs like the Lekki Deep Sea Port, which opened in 2023.

Besides fertilizer exports, Dangote plans to ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly from Lagos. That would involve building pipelines from the gas-rich Niger Delta to Olokola. “We know where the gas is,” he said. “We’ll build a pipeline and bring it to the shore.”

Dangote already uses natural gas from the Delta to power his fertilizer plants, using it to produce hydrogen a key input for ammonia and urea manufacturing.

He believes Africa needs visionary projects to unlock its full economic potential. According to him, success depends on long-term thinking and bold leadership.

Earlier this year, Dangote said his company is on track to hit $30 billion in total annual revenue by 2026.

He also announced plans to overtake Qatar as the world’s biggest urea exporter within the next four years.

If approved, the Olokola port would be a game-changer for Nigeria’s industrial growth.

It could reduce reliance on congested Lagos ports and open new pathways for global trade. It may also spark wider infrastructure development across southwest Nigeria and beyond.

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