Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is seeking a licence to build what could become Nigeria’s largest and deepest seaport in Olokola, Ogun State—signalling a bold new phase in his industrial expansion strategy.

The planned Atlantic port, located about 100 kilometres from his fertilizer and petrochemical facilities in Lagos, is expected to integrate with Dangote Group’s logistics, export operations, and future liquefied natural gas (LNG) ambitions.

A Mega-Port to Power a Mega Empire

Speaking to Bloomberg, Dangote confirmed his group submitted application documents in late June. “It’s not that we want to do everything by ourselves,” he said. “But I believe this kind of investment will inspire other entrepreneurs to get involved too.”

The new deep seaport would rival existing hubs like the Chinese-backed Lekki Deep Sea Port, which opened in 2023. Dangote already exports urea and fertilizer through a private jetty adjacent to his refinery complex in Lagos, but the Olokola port would significantly expand his group’s capacity.

Natural Gas, LNG and Export Expansion

Dangote’s ambitions extend far beyond fertiliser. He revealed plans to export LNG from Lagos, a project that will require constructing a pipeline from the gas-rich Niger Delta. “We know where there is a lot of gas, so we’ll run a pipeline all the way and bring it to the shore,” he said.

The billionaire industrialist already uses natural gas from the Niger Delta as feedstock for hydrogen production—an essential input in ammonia and fertiliser manufacturing at his existing plants.

Vision to Transform Africa’s Economy

Dangote believes such infrastructure is critical for Africa’s economic future. “With bold thinking and long-term planning, these investments can transform the continent’s logistics and export landscape,” he noted.

Earlier this year, Dangote said his conglomerate is on track to reach $30 billion in total revenue by 2026, and plans to surpass Qatar as the world’s top urea exporter within four years.