Dangote Industries Limited has intensified preparations for the proposed Olokola Deep Seaport project after securing the support of host communities and traditional rulers in Ogun and Ondo states, marking a major step toward the development of what could become one of West Africa’s key maritime logistics hubs.
A high-level delegation led by Capt. Jamil Abubakar, Managing Director of Infrastructure & Logistics at Dangote Industries, visited communities within the proposed project corridor in the Olokola Free Trade Zone to begin stakeholder engagement and sensitisation ahead of survey and enumeration activities.
The proposed deep seaport forms part of the broader expansion strategy of Aliko Dangote, whose Vision 2030 plan targets annual group revenues of $100 billion while expanding Africa’s industrial and trade infrastructure capacity.
Located along Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline, the Olokola Free Trade Zone spans more than 10,000 hectares across Ogun and Ondo states, less than 100 kilometres east of Lagos and close to the Lekki-Epe industrial corridor. The location is strategically positioned to support regional shipping, exports, and industrial supply chains across the Gulf of Guinea.
During the engagement, Dangote officials met with leaders of Ode-Omi community in Ogun State and the Araromi Seaside Kingdom in Ondo State, where traditional rulers endorsed the commencement of preliminary project activities, including land surveys, household enumeration, and assessment of economic assets for compensation purposes.
The Lenuwa of Ode-Omi, Oba Folailu Adekunle Hassan, welcomed the project team and expressed support for the initiative, while the Alara of Araromi Seaside Kingdom, Oba Adeoloye Olawole, pledged both community and traditional backing for the development.
Capt. Abubakar described the seaport as a transformational infrastructure project designed to strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness, ease pressure on existing ports, and stimulate industrial growth across southern Nigeria.
According to him, the project is expected to generate employment opportunities, expand logistics and manufacturing activities, and create long-term economic benefits for host communities and the wider Nigerian economy.
The delegation also visited the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, Ondo State, where military officials expressed readiness to collaborate on security and operational support for the project.
For investors and business stakeholders, the Olokola Deep Seaport is viewed as a potentially strategic addition to Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure network, especially as Africa’s largest economy seeks to improve export capacity, reduce logistics bottlenecks, and capitalise on opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Analysts say the project could also enhance Nigeria’s role in regional trade flows by supporting export diversification, attracting foreign direct investment, and strengthening industrial supply chains tied to manufacturing, energy, and logistics.
If completed, the Olokola Deep Seaport would complement existing port infrastructure around Lagos while potentially emerging as a major gateway for imports, exports, and intra-African commerce.
