By ebosele@hotmail.com –
The Nigerian Government has taken a major step towards the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APM Terminals in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The MoU was signed on Monday, September 7, 2026, by the Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc, on behalf of APM Terminals, and the Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited, Didi Ndiomu.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, witnessed the signing alongside the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, as part of the Federal Government delegation to Denmark.
The agreement commits the parties to exclusive negotiations to explore the development of the greenfield Badagry Port project, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to advancing the initiative.
The proposed deep-seaport is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity for Nigeria, accommodate larger container vessels and create new transshipment opportunities for the country and the wider West African market.
Oyetola said the agreement underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment.
“Our engagement in Denmark underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernizing Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlocking the full potential of our blue economy.
“Partnering with global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub,” he said.
The minister’s engagement with APM Terminals also covered discussions on the extension of the company’s port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne.
The Badagry project is expected to complement existing port infrastructure by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger vessels and supporting increased cargo volumes.
According to APM Terminals, the project could be transformational for Nigeria’s role in West African trade, particularly through the creation of significant new transshipment opportunities.
The Managing Director, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals, part of the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group, Igor van den Essen, said the company was keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and strengthen its position as a regional trade hub.
“APM Terminals is keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and position as a trade hub in West Africa. We believe further investing long-term in our concessions in Apapa and Onne helps doing that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today.
“Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities,” he said.
Van den Essen also welcomed the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa.
“APM Terminals is encouraged by the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment, and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa, and we are proud to play a part in that ambition.
“We strongly believe that public-private partnerships help us deliver results that support growth because they drive long-term investment, a better business environment and, thereby, competitiveness in a rapidly developing market,” he added.
Also speaking, Ndiomu described the proposed investment as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.
“Investing in maritime infrastructure and especially in Badagry as a greenfield port project together with APM Terminals is the beginning of Nigeria becoming the true maritime capital of sub-Saharan Africa in full alignment with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” he said.
The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s port network by enabling larger container vessels to call at the country while supporting greater supply-chain resilience and opening new trade opportunities.
The project is also expected to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a regional transshipment hub, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through a strategically located deepwater facility.
The agreement formed part of broader engagements during Oyetola’s visit to Denmark, where the minister and his delegation held discussions with senior Danish government officials and representatives of the Danish maritime sector on opportunities for stronger maritime cooperation and investment in Nigeria’s blue economy.
