FG Signs MoU With APM Terminals For Badagry Deep Seaport Development
_Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola (right) with Denmark’s Minister for Business and Competitiveness, Martin Lidegaard, during a bilateral meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026_
FG Signs MoU With APM Terminals For Badagry Deep Seaport Development
…Oyetola: Project Key to Tinubu’s Vision of Making Nigeria West Africa’s Trade Hub
By Success Okezie
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU* with APM Terminals* for the development of the proposed *Badagry Deep-Seaport*, as part of efforts to modernize Nigeria’s port infrastructure and unlock the full potential of the blue economy.
The MoU was signed in *Copenhagen, Denmark on Monday, September 7, 2026*, during a working visit led by *Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola.
The agreement was signed by *Vincent Clerc, Group CEO of A.P. Moller–Maersk*, on behalf of APM Terminals, and *Didi Ndiomu, Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited*.
Under the MoU, both parties have committed to *exclusive negotiations* to explore the development of the greenfield Badagry Port project. APM Terminals also expressed commitment to *carry the project forward*.
The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is designed to provide *additional deep-water capacity*, accommodate *larger container vessels*, and create *new transshipment opportunities* for Nigeria and the wider West African region.
Dr. Oyetola said the engagement underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to *strengthen maritime infrastructure and attract 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,” Oyetola stated.
“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.”
As part of the discussions, the Minister and APM Terminals also explored the *extension of the company’s port concessions at Lagos Port Complex Apapa and the West Africa Container Terminal, WACT, Onne*.
*APM Terminals: Transformational for West African Trade*
*Igor van den Essen, Managing Director, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals*, said the Badagry project could be transformational for Nigeria’s role in regional trade.
“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 achieve that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today,” he said.
“Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestion in city ports and open new opportunities.”
He added that 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*.
“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,” van den Essen said.
*Badagry Port: Path to Maritime Capital Status*
*Didi Ndiomu, MD of Badagry Port Development Limited*, described the investment as the start of a new era for Nigeria’s maritime sector.
“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 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” Ndiomu said.
The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to *strengthen Nigeria’s port network*, enable larger vessels to berth, improve *supply-chain resilience*, and enhance Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a *regional transshipment hub* for West and Central Africa.
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