Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone will transform the state’s maritime economy, with construction expected to commence in November 2026.
Abiodun disclosed this while addressing All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Ijebu East and Ijebu North Local Government Areas, shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DP World MEA FZE in Paris, France.
According to the governor, the groundbreaking ceremony for the over $7 billion project will take place in November, followed by immediate commencement of construction.
He said the project was expected to be substantially completed within two and a half years.
“By November, we will perform the groundbreaking and the construction will start immediately. In two and a half years, that port will almost be completed 100 per cent,” Abiodun said.
The governor described the partnership with DP World, a global port operator, as a major step towards unlocking Ogun State’s maritime potential and attracting further investments.
Abiodun said successive administrations had been unable to fully realise the deep sea port project for more than three decades despite its economic potential, adding that his administration had revived it as part of efforts to drive industrialisation and economic growth.
He projected that the development would position Ogun as a major maritime destination, saying the state could become a marine hub for West Africa.
“Ogun State will become the marine capital of Africa, the marine hub of West Africa,” he said.
Abiodun also linked the port project to ongoing infrastructure developments, including the rehabilitation of the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode-Ore Road and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which he said would improve connectivity to Ogun East.
The governor further identified the region’s natural resources as another major economic opportunity, particularly the bitumen deposits stretching from Ijebu East towards Ondo State.
“Ijebu East all the way to Ondo State is what we call our Bitumen Belt, the largest deposit of bitumen in Sub-Saharan Africa,” he said.
He added that crude oil resources in other parts of Ogun, including Odogbolu, also presented opportunities for further economic development.
Abiodun, who also spoke on the 2027 general elections, urged APC members to close ranks following the party’s recent primaries.
He called on party leaders to reconcile with aggrieved members and expand the party’s support base ahead of the elections.
The governor appealed to APC members in Ogun East to support the party’s candidates, promising to use his experience and networks to attract more development projects to the district.
He urged members to intensify mobilisation efforts, with the party targeting victory across all elective positions, from the presidency to the State House of Assembly.
The APC State Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, said the administration had recorded significant achievements in the state over the past seven years, stressing the need for effective representation of Ogun East.
Also, the APC Campaign Director-General, Senator Lekan Mustapha, described Ogun East as a resource-rich district capable of achieving greater economic growth if its natural resources were fully developed.
He urged party members to remain united and work collectively towards the success of the party in the forthcoming elections.
