Missed Opportunities: After Rejection in Ondo, Dangote to Build Nigeria’s Biggest Seaport in Ogun State

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has begun formal steps to construct Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport in Ogun State, a project set to boost exports, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), and expand his already massive industrial empire.

The new Atlantic seaport is proposed for Olokola, a coastal area about 100 kilometers from Dangote’s fertilizer and oil refinery complex in Lagos. It will be strategically located to serve as a major export hub, connecting his logistics network and rivaling existing ports in Lagos, including the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

According to Bloomberg, Dangote filed the necessary paperwork in late June and confirmed in an interview that the project is intended to streamline exports and accommodate the growing scale of his operations.

But this landmark development also underscores a missed opportunity for other states particularly Ondo which previously rejected similar proposals from Dangote. Despite his intention to invest and drive development in the region, short-sighted political resistance and lack of strategic planning led to the collapse of those talks.

Olokola, which spans both Ondo and Ogun States, was initially considered for such a project years ago. However, while Ogun State welcomed the investment with open arms, Ondo failed to capitalize on the opportunity, costing the state potential jobs, infrastructure, and long-term economic growth.

Now, Ogun is poised to become a central export hub for the Dangote Group, as the seaport will complement existing facilities such as the private jetty currently used to ship urea and receive refinery equipment.

With construction plans underway, the missed opportunity in Ondo serves as a cautionary tale of how poor leadership and lack of vision can stall progress, even when opportunity knocks.

Written by Itohan Mercy Imoisili