By Mercy Aikoye
The Federal Government and global port operator, APM Terminals, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport in Lagos State, in a move expected to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a major maritime and transshipment hub in West Africa.
The agreement, signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026, commits the parties to exclusive negotiations on the development of the greenfield port project.
The development is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity for Nigeria, accommodate larger container vessels and create fresh opportunities for transshipment cargo destined for markets across West and Central Africa.
The MoU was signed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc, on behalf of APM Terminals, while the Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited, Didi Ndiomu, signed for the project promoters.
The agreement was reached during the visit of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to Denmark as part of efforts to deepen maritime cooperation and attract investment into Nigeria’s port infrastructure.
Oyetola said the proposed Badagry Port would form part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to modernise the maritime sector and unlock the economic potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.
He said the project would complement existing port infrastructure while providing capacity for larger vessels and increasing Nigeria’s ability to handle regional transshipment traffic.
“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 said.
The minister said the partnership with APM Terminals was consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub.
According to him, the government would continue to create an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment in the maritime sector.
The proposed Badagry facility is expected to ease pressure on existing city ports by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling increased cargo volumes and larger container vessels.
Beyond its domestic importance, the project is being positioned as a potential regional transshipment hub, with the capacity to handle cargo bound for other countries in West and Central Africa.
APM Terminals’ Managing Director, Africa & Europe, Igor van den Essen, said the company was keen to support Nigeria’s ambition to strengthen its role in regional trade.
Van den Essen said the development of Badagry, alongside continued investment in the company’s existing concessions, could have a significant impact on Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
“Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities,” he said.
The company also expressed support for further investment in its existing concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne.
Discussions between the company and the Federal Government included possible extensions of the concessions at both facilities.
Van den Essen said public-private partnerships remained important to driving long-term investment and improving the business environment.
He said such partnerships could help deliver infrastructure and services needed to support economic growth and competitiveness in a rapidly developing market.
For the promoters of the Badagry project, the agreement represents a new phase in the development of Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure.
Ndiomu described the proposed investment as a major step towards realising Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leading maritime centre in sub-Saharan Africa.
He said developing Badagry as a greenfield port with APM Terminals was aligned with the Federal Government’s maritime growth strategy.
With the signing of the MoU, APM Terminals and the project promoters are expected to proceed with exclusive negotiations on the development of the port.
The project is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s port network, improve supply-chain resilience, attract larger vessels and expand the country’s capacity to compete for regional cargo.
However, details on the project’s financing structure, construction timeline and final development arrangements are expected to emerge as negotiations between the parties progress.
