By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
APM Terminals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the developers of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport to explore the development of the greenfield port project.
The agreement was signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026, during a visit by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to Denmark to strengthen maritime cooperation and attract investment into Nigeria’s port infrastructure.
The MoU was signed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc, on behalf of APM Terminals, and the Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited, Didi Ndiomu.
Under the agreement, the parties will enter into exclusive negotiations to explore the development of Badagry Port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to advancing the project.
The proposed deep-seaport is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and create new transshipment opportunities for Nigeria and the wider West African market.
Oyetola said the Federal Government was committed to modernizing Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for 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. 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,” he said.
During the engagement with APM Terminals, discussions also covered the extension of the company’s port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne.
The proposed Badagry Port is expected to complement existing port infrastructure by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger vessels and increased cargo volumes.
APM Terminals’ Managing Director, Africa & Europe, Igor van den Essen, said the development could significantly enhance Nigeria’s role in West African trade, particularly through increased transshipment opportunities.
He said further long-term investment in the company’s existing concessions in Apapa and Onne, alongside the development of Badagry as a greenfield port, would contribute to easing congestion at city ports and opening up new trade opportunities.
Van den Essen added that APM Terminals was encouraged by the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa.
According to him, public-private partnerships could help deliver sustainable economic growth by driving long-term investment, improving the business environment and enhancing competitiveness.
Ndiomu described the proposed investment as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.
“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 the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy,” he said.
The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is also expected to strengthen Nigeria’s port network by enabling larger container vessels to berth in the country, while improving supply-chain resilience and creating new trade opportunities.
The project is further expected to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a regional transshipment hub, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through a strategically located deepwater facility.
