FG, APM Terminals Sign MoU to Develop Badagry Deep-Seaport

The Federal Government has taken a major step towards the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between Badagry Port Development Limited and APM Terminals.

The agreement was signed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a high-level visit by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, and a Federal Government delegation to Denmark aimed at strengthening maritime cooperation and attracting further investment into Nigeria’s port infrastructure.

The MoU was signed on behalf of APM Terminals by Vincent Clerc, Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, and by Didi Ndiomu, Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited.

The agreement provides for exclusive negotiations between the parties towards the development of the proposed Badagry Port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to advancing the greenfield port project.

When completed, the Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and create new transshipment opportunities for Nigeria and the wider West African market.

The development formed part of broader engagements during Oyetola’s visit to Denmark, where the minister and his delegation held discussions with senior representatives of the Danish government and stakeholders across the country’s maritime sector.

Oyetola said the Federal Government remained committed to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment.

“Our engagement in Denmark underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlocking the full potential of our blue economy.

“Partnering with global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub,” the minister said.

As part of the engagement with APM Terminals, discussions also focused on the possible extension of the company’s port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal, WACT, Onne.

The proposed Badagry Port is expected to complement Nigeria’s existing port infrastructure by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger vessels and supporting increased cargo volumes.

APM Terminals said the project could be transformational for Nigeria’s role in regional trade, particularly by opening significant new opportunities for transshipment.

Igor van den Essen, Managing Director, Africa and Europe, APM Terminals, said the company was committed to contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and strengthening its position as a major trade hub in West Africa.

“APM Terminals is keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and position as a trade hub in West Africa. We believe further investing long-term in our concessions in Apapa and Onne helps doing that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today.

“Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestion in city ports and further open new opportunities,” he said.

Van den Essen also welcomed the Federal Government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa.

“APM Terminals is encouraged by the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment, and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa, and we are proud to play a part in that ambition.

“We strongly believe that public-private partnerships help us deliver results that support growth because they drive long-term investment, a better business environment and, thereby, competitiveness in a rapidly developing market,” he added.

For Ndiomu, the agreement represents the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.

“Investing in maritime infrastructure and especially in Badagry as a greenfield port project together with APM Terminals is the beginning of Nigeria becoming the true maritime capital of sub-Saharan Africa in full alignment with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” he said.

The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s port network by enabling larger container vessels to call at the country while improving supply-chain resilience and creating new trade opportunities.

The project is also expected to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a regional transshipment hub, enabling cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through a strategically located deepwater facility.

If successfully developed, the Badagry Port could therefore become a significant addition to Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, complementing existing port facilities while supporting the Federal Government’s broader efforts to position the country as a leading maritime and logistics hub in West Africa.

Photo Caption: Group Chief Executive Officer, A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc (left), and Managing Director, Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu, during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the Badagry Deep-Seaport in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026.

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