Africa’s wealthiest businessman Aliko Dangote has submitted formal plans to construct a massive seaport in Olokola, Ogun State, marking the latest expansion of his industrial empire that already spans oil refining, fertiliser production and commodity manufacturing across the continent.
The proposed Atlantic seaport, located approximately 100 kilometres from Dangote’s Lagos-based fertiliser plant and petrochemical refinery, will serve as a strategic hub for exporting goods including liquefied natural gas (LNG) while rivalling existing facilities in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
“We want to build the biggest, deepest port in Nigeria,” Dangote revealed in a Lagos interview, confirming that paperwork for the project was filed in late June. The development represents a return to Olokola after previous plans for his refinery complex there were abandoned due to disputes with local authorities – tensions now resolved under new leadership.
The port will connect to Dangote’s sprawling industrial operations, complementing the existing on-site jetty that currently handles urea and fertiliser exports while receiving heavy refinery equipment. Once operational, it will compete directly with the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port that opened last year.
“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, framing the project as a catalyst for broader economic development.
In parallel, Dangote Industries is preparing a major gas infrastructure initiative that will see pipelines constructed from the Niger Delta to Lagos for LNG exports. Devakumar Edwin, the group’s Vice President, outlined ambitions to surpass current national output levels.
“We want to do a major project to bring more gas than what NLNG is doing today,” Edwin said, referencing Nigeria LNG Limited – the Shell/Eni/TotalEnergies joint venture that currently dominates Africa’s LNG export market. “We know where there is a lot of gas, so run a pipeline all through and then bring it to the shore.”
The conglomerate already sources Niger Delta gas for its $2.5 billion fertiliser plant, where the resource serves as feedstock for ammonia production. The new energy infrastructure would significantly expand these operations while positioning Dangote as a key player in global gas markets.
The expansion comes alongside controversial plans to deploy 4,000 gas-powered trucks from August for nationwide fuel distribution – a move critics allege could cement Dangote’s dominance across Nigeria’s energy value chain. The billionaire, estimated by Bloomberg to be worth $27.8 billion, has firmly denied monopolistic intentions.
With interests spanning cement, sugar, fertiliser and now expanded energy and logistics infrastructure, Dangote’s latest projects underscore his growing influence across African industry.
The seaport development in particular signals ambitious plans to reshape Nigeria’s maritime trade capabilities while supporting his refinery’s 650,000 barrel-per-day output.
As regulatory approvals proceed, analysts will be watching closely to see whether Dangote can replicate his manufacturing successes in port infrastructure – and whether the promised economic spillovers materialise for Nigeria’s broader industrial sector.
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