The Federal Government has taken a major step towards unlocking the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by APM Terminals to explore the development of the greenfield port project.

The agreement was signed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola.

The MoU commits APM Terminals and Badagry Port Development Limited to exclusive negotiations on the proposed development, with the global terminal operator expressing its commitment to carrying the project forward.

The agreement was signed by the Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc, on behalf of APM Terminals, and Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited, Didi Ndiomu.

Oyetola said the development underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment.

According to him, partnering with global terminal operators such as APM Terminals on strategic greenfield projects aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub.

The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to expand Nigeria’s deepwater capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and create new opportunities for transshipment serving Nigeria and other West African markets.

During the Denmark engagement, Oyetola and his delegation also held discussions with senior Danish government officials and representatives of the Danish maritime sector on strengthening cooperation and attracting investment into Nigeria’s maritime industry.

Discussions with APM Terminals also covered the proposed extension of the company’s port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne.

APM Terminals’ Managing Director for Africa and Europe, Igor van den Essen, said the company was keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and strengthen the country’s position as a major West African trade hub.

He said continued investment in its Apapa and Onne concessions, alongside the development of Badagry as a greenfield port, could help ease congestion at existing city ports and create fresh opportunities for trade.

Van den Essen also said public-private partnerships remained important to delivering long-term investment, improving the business environment and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in the region.

Ndiomu described the proposed investment as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development, saying the Badagry project could help advance the country’s ambition of becoming a major maritime centre in sub-Saharan Africa.

The proposed port is expected to complement existing facilities by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger vessels and increased cargo volumes.

It is also projected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity as a regional transshipment hub, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be routed through the strategically located facility.

The development is expected to deepen Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, improve supply-chain resilience and create new opportunities for trade, logistics and investment if the negotiations ultimately lead to the project’s development.