By Sharon Akuboh
Aprominent traditional leader and stakeholder, Olori Omoba Otunba Adejare Rewane Adegbenro, has described the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun State as a bold step that will strengthen Nigeria’s maritime and industrial capacity.
Rewane Adegbenro stated this in a statement on the recent signing of agreements between the Ogun State Government and global ports operator, DP World.
According to him, “The proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone in Ogun State is set to strengthen Nigeria’s maritime and industrial capacity, following the signing of agreements between the Ogun State Government and global ports operator, DP World.”
He disclosed that the agreements were signed in Paris on September 24, 2026, in the presence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, adding that the projects are expected to attract more than $7 billion in initial investment and generate over 50,000 direct jobs when fully developed.
Rewane Adegbenro noted that, “The Gateway Deep Sea Port, planned for Ogun Waterside, will have a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft. According to the Presidency, the facility is designed to accommodate larger vessels, decongest the Lagos port corridor and reduce costs and delays associated with cargo movement.”
He explained that the port will be integrated with a proposed 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone, expected to support manufacturing, processing, logistics, warehousing and export-oriented businesses.
“The development is also intended to link maritime operations with industrial production, creating an economic corridor around the port and supporting the movement of goods into and out of Nigeria,” he said.
The statement quoted President Tinubu, who witnessed the signing, as assuring investors of regulatory clarity, policy stability and federal support for the development.
Rewane Adegbenro added that the President said the Federal Government would facilitate road, rail and power connectivity, strengthen investment security and remove unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.
He further said, “The President described the project as an example of cooperation between federal and subnational governments, with Ogun State providing land and structuring the investment framework while private capital and international expertise are brought into the project.”
On connectivity, Rewane Adegbenro stated that, “The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is also expected to connect the port and economic zone with Lagos and the Nigerian hinterland. The Presidency identified the 28-kilometre Ogun section as a key component of the corridor’s commercial viability.”
He recalled that Governor Dapo Abiodun has said construction of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Blue Marine Special Economic Zone is expected to begin in November 2026 following a groundbreaking ceremony, with the port potentially completed within two and a half years.
Speaking on the national maritime outlook, he said, “The Nigerian Ports Authority oversees major facilities in Lagos and the Eastern ports, including Onne, Warri and Calabar, while efforts are being made to rehabilitate and modernise existing facilities.”
He observed that the project comes at a time when discussions continue over maritime infrastructure in the South-East and South-South, noting that some existing and proposed projects in those regions have faced challenges involving channel depth, dredging, road and rail connectivity, equipment, cargo volumes and maintenance.
Rewane Adegbenro also referenced developments in Abia State, where Governor Alex Otti has approved a feasibility study for the proposed Azumini-Obeaku Seaport and Inland Waterways Corridor, with China Harbour Engineering Company involved in the study.
According to him, “The Ogun development highlights the importance of project preparation, feasibility studies, infrastructure planning, investor participation and regulatory coordination in attracting large-scale investment.”
He advised that, “For other states seeking similar maritime projects, the emerging model is to develop commercially viable proposals, address land and connectivity requirements, attract credible investors and establish partnerships capable of moving projects from agreements to implementation.”
Rewane Adegbenro stressed that execution remains critical, saying, “The real test for Ogun will now be execution. The transition from agreements to financing, construction, infrastructure connections and eventual operations will determine the project’s long-term economic impact.”
He concluded that, “If successfully delivered, the project could support employment, manufacturing, logistics, exports, government revenue and wider economic activity.”
“The $7 billion investment therefore represents more than a port development. It seeks to integrate maritime infrastructure with industrial production and international trade, while providing Nigeria with additional capacity to participate in regional and global commerce,” Rewane Adegbenro added.