Hold up! Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is not done making bold moves. The billionaire industrialist is reportedly seeking regulatory approval to build what might become Nigeria’s deepest and largest seaport in Olokola, Ogun State.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the proposed Atlantic seaport is set to redefine Nigeria’s logistics and export game, sitting just about 100 kilometres away from Dangote’s massive fertiliser and petrochemical complex in Lagos.
And get this — Dangote confirmed in a recent interview that his group has already submitted paperwork since June to kick-start the project. He called it the “biggest, deepest port in Nigeria” and believes it will inspire other investors to join in.
“It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves,” he said, “but I believe this kind of investment will inspire other entrepreneurs…”
Omo, Baba no dey play. This is long-term strategy on steroids.
Currently, Dangote moves fertiliser and urea through a private jetty near his refinery. But this new deep-sea port? It’s going to scale that setup big time, possibly even rival the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port, which launched in 2023.
That’s not all — Dangote is eyeing the LNG export market next, planning to run pipelines from the gas-rich Niger Deltato the Lagos coast. The goal? Compete with Nigeria LNG Ltd., the country’s current LNG heavyweight.
He hinted:
“We want to bring in more gas than what NLNG is doing today… We know where the gas is, and we’ll pipe it all the way to the shore.”
E no end there…
Earlier this year, Dangote boldly predicted that his group could generate $30 billion annually by 2026, and he’s gunning to make Nigeria the world’s top urea exporter, beating even Qatar in the next four years.
Omo, Dangote dey cook! This Olokola seaport isn’t just another big project — it’s looking like a total game-changer for Nigeria’s economy and Africa’s industrial scene at large.
Let’s see how this unfolds. But one thing is clear: Dangote is playing big, and he’s not slowing down.
