Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that a partnership between his state and DP World MEA FZE will significantly boost Nigeria's economy. The deal, worth $7 billion, was signed in Paris, France, and witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The project aims to develop the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone. Abiodun described the signing as a defining moment in Ogun State's economic history and Nigeria's engagement with the global economy.
The Gateway Deep Sea Port, proposed for Ogun Waterside, will feature a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft. This will enable it to handle larger vessels, reducing congestion in the Lagos port corridor and costs for importers and exporters. The port will be integrated with a 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, supporting manufacturing, processing, and export-oriented industries. Abiodun credited President Tinubu with reviving the long-standing deep seaport vision for the Ogun coastline.
Abiodun emphasized that the project is part of a broader strategy to deepen trade, attract investment, and strengthen Nigeria's maritime economy. He said the deep seaport would stimulate small and medium enterprises, strengthen supply chains, and expand export capacity. The project is expected to create opportunities across maritime services, logistics, manufacturing, and technology. Abiodun highlighted the Blue Marine Special Economic Zone as a platform for capital, technology, innovation, and talent.
President Tinubu assured investors that the Federal Government remains committed to providing regulatory clarity and a predictable business environment. He said the project would create over 50,000 direct jobs and many indirect opportunities, generating substantial non-oil export earnings. Tinubu described the project as evidence of cooperative federalism and a reaffirmation of his government's Renewed Hope Agenda.
The project is expected to form part of a wider multimodal infrastructure network, incorporating the Gateway International Airport, dry ports, the coastal highway, and the deep seaport. Abiodun assured DP World and other partners that Ogun State is ready for business, partnership, and delivery. He stressed the importance of host-community participation, environmental sustainability, and security.
President Tinubu highlighted the strategic importance of the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, noting that it has already attracted interest from leading global manufacturing and industrial companies. He said the zone would transform imported inputs into finished goods, process Nigerian raw materials for export, and provide employment for young men and women.
The Federal Government will continue to work with Ogun State and other subnational governments to remove unnecessary bottlenecks and facilitate investments that create value for Nigerians. Strengthening the maritime economy remains a key part of the Federal Government's broader economic diversification strategy, as Nigeria strives to position itself as a continental hub for global trades and investments.
Key points
- The $7 billion project aims to develop the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.
- The project is expected to create over 50,000 direct jobs and many indirect opportunities.
- The development will form part of a wider multimodal infrastructure network incorporating the Gateway International Airport, dry ports, the coastal highway, and the deep seaport.
