Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is going ahead with a sensational proposal to build what could be Nigeria’s deepest and biggest seaport as a giant stride in expanding his industrial empire. The proposed port, which will be in Olokola, Ogun State, will boost Nigeria’s export capacity of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in particular and stretch the Dangote Group’s growing chain of logistics.
The Olokola Free Trade Zone, long rumoured as a potential site for Dangote’s massive oil refinery and petrochemical plant, is to be repositioned for a strategic comeback. A formal request has been submitted to the authorities with sights set on a port development that would eventually rival the nation’s current maritime infrastructure, Bloomberg has reported. Not only is there an intention to connect operations in Lagos, like the Lekki Deep Sea Port, but also to offer a high-performance export conduit for petroleum products, fertiliser, and, in the short term, LNG.
“It’s not that we desire to do everything ourselves,” Mr. Dangote told Bloomberg, “but I believe doing this will inspire other entrepreneurs to enter into it.”
The ambitions don’t end here. Dangote Group is in the process of laying the foundation for a giant LNG pipeline from the Niger Delta to Lagos, with the target of surpassing Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) to become the biggest among Africa’s gas exporters. Devakumar Edwin, the group executive, stated that the pipeline aims to harness vast gas reserves and produce enough output to exceed NLNG’s existing capacity.
Dangote is also expanding its fertiliser division, currently shipping to overseas markets such as the US, Brazil, and India. A factory is planned to be established in Ethiopia, with the broader goal of making Africa self-sufficient in urea imports within 40 months. At the same time, the group plans to challenge Qatar for leadership of the world in urea production.
Meanwhile, the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest, began operations in 2024. Namibia is constructing storage facilities, such as tanks to hold at least 1.6 million litres of petrol and diesel.
In the years to come, Dangote will list his petrochemical venture on the Lagos Stock Exchange this year and have his refinery listed next year, firming his industrial footprint in Africa and beyond.
