Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is seeking regulatory approval to build what would become Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport in Olokola, Ogun State, in a bold move to expand his industrial and export operations.
According to Bloomberg, the proposed Atlantic seaport, expected to transform Nigeria’s maritime logistics, will be situated about 100 kilometres from Dangote’s massive fertiliser and petrochemical complex in Lagos.
It is designed to significantly improve the group’s export capabilities and serve as a strategic hub for Dangote’s growing footprint in fertilizer, petrochemicals, and future liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations.
In a recent interview, Dangote confirmed that his group submitted paperwork in late June to initiate the project, describing it as “the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria.”
“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves, but I believe this kind of investment will inspire other entrepreneurs to get involved too,” he said.
Currently, Dangote exports fertilizer and urea through a private jetty near his refinery. The new port is expected to integrate and expand those logistics, potentially rivalling major ports like the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port, which began operations in 2023.
In addition to fertiliser exports, Dangote is planning to venture into LNG exports from Lagos, a move that would require the construction of pipelines from the gas-rich Niger Delta to the southern coast.
“We want to do a major project to bring in more gas than what NLNG is doing today. We know where there is a lot of gas, so we’ll run a pipeline all the way and bring it to the shore,” he said, referencing Nigeria LNG Ltd., the country’s largest LNG exporter.
Dangote currently uses natural gas from the Niger Delta as a feedstock for his fertilizer plant’s hydrogen production, a critical element in ammonia and urea manufacturing.
He emphasized that transformative projects like this, guided by bold vision and long-term strategy, are essential to reshaping Africa’s economic future.
Earlier this year, Dangote projected that his conglomerate is on course to generate $30 billion in annual revenue by 2026 and expressed confidence in overtaking Qatar to become the world’s leading urea exporter within four years.
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