Dangote Unveils Plan For Nigeria’s Deepest Seaport In Ogun

Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of the Dangote Group, has launched steps to establish what he calls Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport at Olokola in Ogun State. The project, a major step in expanding his vast industrial empire, also marks a bold move into maritime logistics.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Monday in Lagos, Dangote confirmed he had submitted the project documents at the end of June. The port is expected to complement his existing operations by easing exports of fertilizer, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while improving the importation of equipment and raw materials.

“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I believe this will inspire other investors,” he said, emphasizing the potential for the development to stimulate more private sector involvement in Nigeria’s struggling port sector.

Currently, Dangote exports urea and fertilizer using a jetty constructed beside his refinery and fertilizer plant in Lekki, which also handles large equipment deliveries. The proposed Atlantic seaport would lie about 100km from this complex and rival Lagos’ existing port infrastructure, including the Chinese-financed Lekki Deep Sea Port that opened in 2023.

This development also signals Dangote’s return to the Olokola site, where he had originally planned to build his refinery and fertilizer plant before pulling out due to disagreements with local authorities. Those issues appear to have been resolved under the present government.

Four months ago, Dangote had announced plans to re-engage with the Olokola Free Trade Zone, located in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

Further expanding his energy ambitions, Dangote also aims to export LNG from Lagos by constructing new pipelines connecting Nigeria’s gas-rich Niger Delta to the coast. Devakumar Edwin, a vice president at the Dangote Group, said this gas export initiative could surpass current output from Nigeria LNG Ltd.—Africa’s largest LNG exporter and a joint venture involving the government, Shell, Eni, and TotalEnergies.

“We know the gas locations. We’ll run a pipeline straight to the coast,” Edwin explained, noting that Dangote’s fertilizer plant already uses Niger Delta gas to make hydrogen for ammonia—essential for fertilizer production.

Meanwhile, the company plans to begin domestic fuel distribution in August using a fleet of 4,000 gas-powered trucks. This move has triggered backlash from groups concerned about a possible monopoly over Nigeria’s downstream oil sector an accusation Dangote has publicly refuted.

Aliko Dangote, whose net worth is estimated at $27.8 billion by Bloomberg, also owns major cement and sugar manufacturing operations across Africa.