Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is spearheading a bold move to expand his business empire by seeking government approval to construct Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport in Olokola, Ogun State. This strategic project will further enhance the logistics and export strength of the Dangote Group, aligning with its existing fertilizer and petrochemical operations.
Located approximately 100 kilometers from Dangote’s massive industrial facilities in Lagos, the proposed Atlantic seaport is designed to accelerate exports and integrate the company’s growing operations in fertilizers, petrochemicals, and future liquefied natural gas (LNG) ventures.
Dangote revealed in a recent interview that the Group submitted documents in late June to initiate the construction of what he called “the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria.” He emphasized the project’s broader purpose, stating, “It’s not that we want to do everything ourselves, but we believe investments like this will inspire others to take bold steps as well.”
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Currently, he relies on a private jetty near his refinery to export urea and fertilizer and handle equipment deliveries. The new seaport would consolidate and significantly expand these operations, posing potential competition to existing facilities like the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port in Lagos, which commenced operations in 2023.
Beyond the fertilizer sector, Dangote also plans to export LNG from Lagos. This ambitious move will involve constructing new pipelines from the gas-rich Niger Delta to the southern coast. “We know where there is a lot of gas,” he stated. “We’ll build a pipeline to bring it to shore, and we want to handle more gas than even what Nigeria LNG Limited is doing today.”
Gas from the Niger Delta already powers the Dangote fertilizer plant, where it is used to produce hydrogen for ammonia—a vital input in fertilizer manufacturing.
