$17bn Gateway Port, OgunLNG Projects Attract Investors to Ogun, Says Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that the proposed $7 billion Gateway Deep Sea Port and the $10 billion Ogun Liquefied Natural Gas (OgunLNG) project are attracting fresh investment interest to the state, positioning it for a major industrial and economic transformation.

Abiodun said the two strategic projects, alongside the proposed Ogun Blue Marine and Special Economic Zone and the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, were opening new economic frontiers and drawing the attention of local and international investors.

The governor made this disclosure on Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode during the town hall meeting on the 2027–2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2027 Budget, organised by the state Ministry of Budget and Planning.

He described the Gateway Deep Sea Port as one of the defining legacy projects of his administration, revealing that agreements recently signed in Paris with global port operator DP World would attract approximately $7 billion in private-sector investment.

According to him, the agreements cover the development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and the Ogun Blue Marine and Special Economic Zone, with the potential to reposition the state as a major maritime, logistics, manufacturing and industrial hub.

“In September, I had the privilege of travelling to Paris to sign a landmark agreement that will be the biggest legacy of my administration, and that agreement is for the construction of the Ogun Deep Sea Port.

“That day, we signed two agreements: one for the Deep Sea Port and the other for the Ogun Blue Marine and Special Processing Zone. These combined agreements translate to an investment of about $7 billion of private capital, with no government investment,” Abiodun said.

The governor added that the proposed $10 billion OgunLNG project, being developed with the involvement of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), would further strengthen Ogun’s investment appeal.

He noted that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would complement the projects by improving transportation links, enhancing connectivity and opening additional economic corridors.

Abiodun said the concentration of these major investments had heightened investor confidence in Ogun, disclosing that his administration was experiencing increasing pressure from prospective investors seeking opportunities to establish businesses and take advantage of the state’s emerging economic prospects.

He attributed the growing investment interest to deliberate investments in infrastructure, human capital development and an investor-friendly business environment since he assumed office in 2019.

Reviewing his administration’s performance, the governor disclosed that more than 1,700 kilometres of roads had been constructed or rehabilitated across the state, alongside interventions in healthcare, education, agriculture, electricity and security.

He identified the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence, rehabilitation of over 1,600 public schools, recruitment of more than 6,000 teachers and support for thousands of farmers as some of the major achievements recorded by his government.

On electricity, Abiodun disclosed that power plants had been installed in Abeokuta, while similar facilities were planned for Ijebu-Ode and Remo to improve electricity supply, stimulate commercial activities and support industrial growth.

Highlighting projects in Ijebu Division, the governor listed road reconstruction and rehabilitation works in Oru, Awa, Ilaporu, Ago-Iwoye, Eruwon and Atan, among other communities.

He further disclosed that 26 roads had been constructed in Ijebu-Ode, describing the interventions as part of efforts to improve connectivity and unlock economic opportunities across communities.

The governor described the town hall meeting as particularly important, noting that it was the final budget consultation of his administration and provided residents with an opportunity to influence the priorities of the 2027 fiscal plan.

He explained that the proposed budget would be guided by the 2027–2029 MTEF, with emphasis on realistic expenditure, completion of ongoing projects, delivery of essential services and investments capable of generating sustainable economic growth.

“My responsibility is to present a realistic and transparent budget that will complete all ongoing projects and provide essential services,” he said.

Abiodun thanked residents for their cooperation and support over the past seven years, assuring them that his administration would remain committed to fulfilling its promises until the end of its tenure.

He also emphasised the need for continuity in governance, stressing that development should not be tied to individual administrations but sustained through successive governments.

The governor urged traditional rulers, community leaders, religious organisations, professional associations and other stakeholders to actively participate in the budget process by identifying pressing developmental needs and presenting practical recommendations.

He assured participants that all submissions would receive due consideration, adding that proposals that could not be accommodated in the 2027 budget would be documented in an annexure and transmitted to the incoming administration.

According to him, the arrangement would ensure that legitimate community demands and development priorities are not abandoned during the transition to a new government.

Earlier, the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, said the state’s development agenda remained focused on infrastructure, improved access to essential services and the creation of an enabling environment for businesses and individual prosperity.

Okubadejo described governance as a shared responsibility and urged residents to partner with the government to ensure that public resources were directed towards projects and programmes that would deliver the greatest benefits to the people.