Dangote launches Olokola seaport in Ogun State to boost maritime logistics and LNG exports, marking a return to site and a push for deeper private sector investment

Dangote launches Olokola seaport in a renewed move to expand Nigeria’s maritime logistics and deepen industrial infrastructure.

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Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that he submitted paperwork for the deep-sea port project in late June.

The proposed facility, set to be Nigeria’s biggest and deepest port, will be situated in Olokola, Ogun State—about 100 kilometres from Dangote’s existing refinery and fertiliser complex in Lekki, Lagos.

According to Dangote, the strategic location of the seaport is intended to ease exports of urea, fertilisers, petrochemicals and liquefied natural gas, while also providing better access for the import of heavy equipment and raw materials.

“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I think doing this will encourage other entrepreneurs to come into it,” Dangote said.

The industrialist believes the move will unlock new private investments in Nigeria’s underperforming port infrastructure, much of which remains congested and outdated.

Currently, Dangote exports products through an on-site jetty at his Lekki plant, but the new Atlantic seaport promises to rival existing facilities, including the China-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port which began operations in 2023.

The Olokola site is not new to Dangote’s ambitions. He previously planned to site his refinery there, but local disputes forced a change of plans.

Those disputes, it appears, have now been resolved under the current administration, paving the way for the company’s return to the Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

This seaport development signals a broader maritime push by Dangote Group.

It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I think doing this will encourage other entrepreneurs to come into it.

Vice-President of the Group, Devakumar Edwin, revealed additional plans to export liquefied gas from Lagos through a massive pipeline infrastructure connecting the gas-rich Niger Delta.

“We want to do a major project to bring more gas than what NLNG is doing today,” Edwin said.

He referenced Nigeria LNG Ltd., the nation’s largest LNG exporter, as the current benchmark. The Dangote project aims to rival or exceed it by volume.

Edwin explained that gas sourced from the Niger Delta is already in use at Dangote’s fertiliser plant, where it serves as feedstock for hydrogen and ammonia production, critical to the firm’s fertiliser output.

Beyond ports and gas, Dangote is also preparing to enter the downstream petroleum distribution sector. From August, the company will begin using a fleet of 4,000 gas-powered trucks to deliver fuel to retailers nationwide.

While some groups have accused him of attempting to monopolise the energy sector, Dangote has denied these claims. His stated objective remains to improve national infrastructure and reduce reliance on imported products.

The Olokola project, if approved and executed, would be a landmark addition to Nigeria’s coastal logistics. It is poised to compete with major global shipping routes while reinforcing Nigeria’s drive for industrial independence.

With an estimated net worth of $27.8 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Dangote already controls large swathes of Africa’s cement, sugar, and fertiliser markets.

The Olokola venture could solidify his footprint in oil, gas, and maritime infrastructure.

Dangote launches Olokola seaport at a time when Nigeria’s economy is seeking revitalisation through private sector leadership.

The project may become a symbol of how strategic industrial planning and investor confidence can reshape the country’s economic narrative.

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As Dangote’s industrial empire extends from the heart of Lagos to the Atlantic coast of Ogun, his vision for a self-reliant Nigeria continues to take concrete form.