Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, says he is set to construct Nigeria’s biggest and deepest seaport at Olokola in Ogun State. This is a project he believes will transform the country’s industrial and export landscape.
In an exclusive interview with Bloomberg, the president of the Dangote Group revealed that his company has submitted paperwork to begin development at the proposed Atlantic seaport, with a focus on facilitating exports such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and easing congestion at existing ports.
“We have applied and are moving forward with plans to build the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria,” Dangote said. “This will not only strengthen our logistics capacity but also serve as a gateway for many Nigerian goods to the global market.”
The project suggests Dangote’s return to the Olokola Free Trade Zone, where he had earlier shelved plans to construct a refinery and fertiliser complex due to disagreements with local authorities.
“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves,” he noted, “but I think doing this will encourage other entrepreneurs to come into it.”
According to Dangote, the new port will complement his group’s existing infrastructure, including the Dangote Refinery in Lekki and position Nigeria as a regional hub for heavy manufacturing and trade.
