The Ogun State Government and global ports and logistics operator DP World have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for the development of the Gateway Deep Seaport and the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, with the projects expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment.
The agreements were signed in Paris, France, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu witnessing the ceremony alongside senior Nigerian government officials and representatives of DP World and other investment partners.
According to the Presidency, the projects are projected to create more than 50,000 direct jobs when fully developed, in addition to indirect employment opportunities across logistics, manufacturing, maritime services, technology and other related sectors.
The proposed Gateway Deep Seaport will be located in Ogun Waterside and is planned to feature a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft. The facility is expected to provide an additional maritime gateway for cargo moving through the region and help ease pressure on the existing Lagos port corridor, including Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.
The second component is the proposed Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, planned across approximately 10,000 hectares. The zone is intended to support manufacturing, processing, logistics and export-oriented activities, including the processing of Nigerian raw materials into finished products.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would provide regulatory and institutional support to move the projects from the agreement stage toward implementation. He also said the government would facilitate road, rail and power connections, strengthen investment security and address bureaucratic obstacles affecting major investments.
The President linked the proposed developments to the wider transport and industrial infrastructure around Ogun State, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. He said the 28-kilometre Ogun section of the highway would provide an important connection to the emerging port and industrial corridor.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who led the Ogun State delegation to the signing, said the projects were intended to strengthen the state’s position in maritime trade, logistics, manufacturing and international commerce.
He also highlighted the potential role of the Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in attracting capital, technology and industrial activity, while stressing the importance of host-community participation, environmental sustainability and security.
The Gateway Deep Seaport and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone are expected to form part of a broader multimodal infrastructure network connecting maritime facilities with roads, rail, aviation and industrial infrastructure.
For DP World, the agreement expands its involvement in Nigeria’s logistics and port development landscape, while for Ogun State, the proposed projects represent an effort to develop its coastline into an industrial and trade corridor.
The $7 billion figure announced for the projects refers to expected initial investment and should not be interpreted as money already disbursed. Implementation of the agreements, including the development of the port and economic zone, will determine how much of the projected investment is ultimately committed.