OGUN GOES BIG! DP World Signs $7BN Deal for Deep Seaport and 10,000-Hectare Economic Zone

DP World Signs $7BN Deal for Deep Seaport and 10,000-meHectare Economic Zone

By Lekki People Magazine

Ogun State is positioning itself for a major transformation in maritime trade and industrial development following agreements with global ports and logistics giant DP World to develop the proposed Gateway Deep Seaport and a 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone.

The Memoranda of Understanding were signed in Paris, France, on September 24, 2026, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu witnessing the ceremony alongside Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and senior Nigerian and DP World officials.

According to the Presidency, the projects are expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment and could generate over 50,000 direct jobs when fully developed.

A New Maritime Gateway

The proposed Gateway Deep Seaport, located in Ogun Waterside, is planned with a 4-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft, allowing it to accommodate large vessels and support the movement of cargo between Nigeria, Africa and international markets.

The project is also expected to provide an additional maritime gateway for businesses in the Southwest and potentially ease some of the pressure on existing port infrastructure.

But the port is only one part of the bigger plan.

10,000 Hectares for Business

The proposed 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone is designed to complement the port by creating space for manufacturing, processing, logistics, trade and export-oriented businesses.

The integrated model would allow raw materials and other inputs to enter through the port, be processed or manufactured within the economic zone, and then move into Nigerian and international markets.

This could create a significant industrial corridor along Ogun's coastline if the project progresses from agreement to full implementation.

Linked to Major Infrastructure

The proposed development is also expected to connect with major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

According to the Presidency, the 28-kilometre Ogun section of the coastal highway is expected to provide an important link between the proposed port, the economic zone, Lagos and the wider Nigerian hinterland.

The emerging corridor is also expected to interact with other planned developments around the Ogun coastline, including the Nigerian Navy Operating Base and Dockyard and the OK LNG Project.

A New Chapter for Ogun

Ogun already has one of Nigeria's strongest concentrations of manufacturing and industrial activity. The proposed port and economic zone could give businesses in the state more direct access to maritime trade and export markets.

The state government has also linked the project to its wider infrastructure strategy, including the Gateway International Airport, dry ports, road networks and the coastal highway.

For now, the agreements represent an important investment framework rather than a completed port. Their eventual impact will depend on financing, construction, regulatory approvals, supporting infrastructure and successful implementation.

But with $7 billion-plus in projected investment, 50,000 potential direct jobs and 10,000 hectares earmarked for economic activity, Ogun has placed a major new maritime-industrial project on Nigeria's development map.