Ogun Seaport Project Signals New Direction For Nigeria’s Maritime Economy, Says Monarch

**Kuni Tyessi in Abuja **

A traditional leader and stakeholder, Otunba Adejare Rewane Adegbenro, has described the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun State as a major boost to Nigeria’s maritime and industrial capacity.

In a statement on the signing of agreements between the Ogun State Government and global ports operator DP World, Adegbenro said the projects, signed in Paris on September 24, 2026 in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are expected to attract over $7 billion in initial investment and create more than 50,000 direct jobs.

He said the Gateway Deep Sea Port in Ogun Waterside will have a 4-kilometre berth and 18-metre draft to accommodate larger vessels, decongest the Lagos port corridor and reduce cargo delays and costs.

The port, he noted, will be integrated with a 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone to support manufacturing, processing, logistics, warehousing and export-oriented businesses, creating an economic corridor linking maritime operations with industrial production.

Adegbenro said Tinubu assured investors of regulatory clarity, policy stability and federal support, including road, rail and power connectivity, investment security and removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks

He quoted the President as describing the project as a model of federal and sub national cooperation, with Ogun State providing land and investment structure while private capital and international expertise drive implementation.

He added that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will connect the port and economic zone to Lagos and the hinterland, with the 28-kilometre Ogun section critical to its commercial viability.

According to him, Governor Dapo Abiodun has said construction will begin in November 2026 after a groundbreaking ceremony, with completion expected within two and a half years.

Adegbenro said while the Nigerian Ports Authority oversees major ports in Lagos, Onne, Warri and Calabar and is modernising existing facilities, challenges around channel depth, dredging, connectivity and cargo volumes have affected some projects in the South-East and South-South.

He cited Abia State, where Governor Alex Otti has approved a feasibility study for the Azumini-Obeaku Seaport and Inland Waterways Corridor with China Harbour Engineering Company.

“The Ogun development highlights the importance of project preparation, feasibility studies, infrastructure planning, investor participation and regulatory coordination in attracting large-scale investment,” he said.

He advised other states to develop commercially viable proposals, address land and connectivity issues, and attract credible investors.

“The real test for Ogun will now be execution. The transition from agreements to financing, construction, infrastructure connections and eventual operations will determine the project’s long-term economic impact,” he said.

“If successfully delivered, it could support employment, manufacturing, logistics, exports, government revenue and wider economic activity.

“The $7 billion investment is more than a port development – it seeks to integrate maritime infrastructure with industrial production and international trade,” he added.