RismadarVoice Reporters
September 24, 2026
The Ogun State Government and global ports operator DP World have signed agreements for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, projects expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment.
President Bola Tinubu witnessed the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding in Paris, France, on Thursday, assuring investors of regulatory clarity, policy stability and a predictable business environment for long-term investments in Nigeria.
The projects are projected to create more than 50,000 direct jobs, alongside additional indirect employment opportunities, while expanding Nigeria’s maritime, manufacturing, logistics and export capacity.
The proposed Gateway Deep Seaport at Ogun Waterside will feature a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft, enabling it to accommodate larger vessels and potentially ease pressure on the Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.
The port will be integrated with the proposed 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, designed to support manufacturing, processing, logistics and export-oriented industries.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would provide the regulatory and institutional support required to move the projects from agreements to implementation.
He said federal support would include facilitating road, rail and power connectivity, strengthening security within the maritime domain and removing unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.
The President also identified the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as an important transport link for the emerging industrial and maritime corridor, with its Ogun section expected to connect the developments to Lagos, the Nigerian hinterland and wider markets.
Tinubu said the projects were intended to address port congestion, inadequate draft capacity and logistics bottlenecks that have increased the cost of doing business in Nigeria.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who led the state delegation to the signing, said the projects formed part of the state’s strategy to deepen trade, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy.
Abiodun said the proposed developments would create opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, maritime services and technology while supporting small and medium-sized businesses and wider supply chains.
The Federal Government, Ogun State Government and investors are expected to work on the approvals, infrastructure and other requirements necessary to advance the projects towards implementation.
