Plans for Nigeria’s Largest Port Submitted in June
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, submitted a proposal in late June 2025 to build Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), Ogun State, to boost exports of his conglomerate’s products, including fertilizer, oil, cement, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). The port, located 100 km from Dangote’s Lagos fertilizer and petrochemical plants, aims to ease congestion at Lagos ports and enhance logistics.
The project revives plans abandoned due to disputes with former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration, which also saw the $800M Itori cement plant demolished twice. Governor Dapo Abiodun’s investor-friendly policies prompted Dangote’s return, with the port expected to rival the Chinese-funded Lekki Deep Sea Port, operational since 2023. The OKFTZ, initially intended for Dangote’s $20B refinery, could position Ogun as a trade hub, per Businessday NG.
Dangote’s group also plans to construct gas pipelines from the Niger Delta to Olokola for LNG exports, aiming to surpass Qatar as the top urea exporter in four years. The port’s approval status remains unclear, but regulatory filings are under review. The project aligns with Nigeria’s push for non-oil exports and could create thousands of jobs, per FurtherAfrica.