Ogun deep sea port construction to begin in November — Abiodun

News, Politics

ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (NPA) — Construction of the over $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside will commence in November, Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced.

Abiodun disclosed this in a statement he personally issued on Monday, saying the construction would begin immediately after the planned groundbreaking ceremony.

“We are pleased to announce that construction of the over $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun Waterside will commence in November, immediately after the groundbreaking ceremony,” he said.

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The governor said the announcement followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with DP World MEA FZE in Paris, witnessed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said the project was expected to be substantially completed within two and a half years.

According to Abiodun, the project would unlock Ogun State’s maritime and economic potential, attract major investments, create jobs and position Ogun Waterside as a major maritime hub in West Africa.

He also cited the rehabilitation of the Sagamu–Ijebu-Ode–Ore Road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as developments that would strengthen connectivity and economic activities across Ogun East.

“Beyond maritime development, we remain committed to harnessing the vast bitumen deposits within the Ijebu East axis and exploring the crude oil potential identified in parts of our State,” the governor said.

Abiodun expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his support and commitment to the project, saying his administration would continue to combine vision with implementation to attract investment and create opportunities for residents.

Recall that President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, witnessed the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between the Ogun State Government and DP World for the development of the Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone and the Gateway Deep Seaport.

The Ogun State delegation was led by Governor Dapo Abiodun and included Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi and commissioners responsible for finance, works, industry, trade and investment, and transport, as well as a representative of the host community.

The ceremony was also attended by Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s Ambassador to France Emmanuel Ayodele Oke, Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director Dr Abubakar Dantsoho, DP World Group CEO Yuvraj Narayan and other investors and partners.

Tinubu said the agreements brought together investment capital, technical expertise and execution capacity, describing DP World as a major global ports and logistics operator.

“The agreements before us bring together vision, expertise, capital and execution capacity. I particularly welcome DP World, one of the world’s leading port and logistics operators,” he said.