The Dangote Group has submitted formal applications to commence development of a new deep seaport in Olokola, Ogun State, in a move aimed at strengthening the logistics and export infrastructure of its growing industrial empire.
The proposed Atlantic seaport, described by Chairman Aliko Dangote as “the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria,” will be located approximately 100 kilometers from the company’s fertilizer and petrochemical facilities in the Lekki Free Zone, Lagos.
According to Dangote, the project is strategically designed to improve the movement of goods, including urea, fuel products, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while reducing reliance on external terminals.
“We are not trying to do everything, but initiating this will create room for more private sector players to participate in Nigeria’s infrastructure development,” Dangote said during an interview in Lagos.
The application for the seaport development was submitted in late June, signaling the group’s renewed interest in the Olokola Free Trade Zone, a site Dangote previously withdrew from due to unresolved issues with past administrations.
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the state government under a new leadership has mended previous tensions and is open to hosting the multibillion-dollar project.
The Atlantic seaport project is expected to rival existing facilities in Lagos, such as the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port, which began operations in 2023.
Once operational, the new Ogun port will integrate with Dangote Group’s on-site jetty in Lagos, which currently handles fertilizer exports and heavy equipment imports for the $20 billion refinery project.
In a related development, Dangote Group Vice President Devakumar Edwin disclosed plans to build pipelines from the Niger Delta to Lagos to facilitate large-scale LNG exports. The company aims to surpass current supply volumes by Nigeria LNG Limited, the nation’s largest gas exporter.
“We want to do a major project to bring more gas than what NLNG is doing today,” Edwin said. “We know where gas is concentrated, and our plan is to run a pipeline network to bring it to the coast for processing and shipment.”
The company already utilizes gas from the Niger Delta as feedstock for hydrogen production at its fertilizer plant. The new seaport will provide additional support for shipping LNG and other byproducts to global markets.
Dangote, whose net worth stands at $27.8 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is currently finalizing plans to begin domestic fuel distribution by August through a fleet of 4,000 gas-powered trucks.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with critics warning of potential dominance in the downstream sector.
However, the company has dismissed the concerns, citing the need for reliable and efficient distribution to ensure market stability.
The billionaire industrialist continues to consolidate his holdings across strategic sectors including cement, sugar, oil refining, gas, fertilizer, and logistics. With this latest seaport initiative, the Dangote Group is positioning itself as a key driver of Nigeria’s industrial future.
