APM Terminals signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian officials to develop a Badagry deepwater port, a move aimed at expanding maritime capacity in West Africa and reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a regional trade gateway. The partnership reflects a broader ambition to position Nigeria at the forefront of maritime trade on the continent.
The agreement was signed in Copenhagen during a high-level visit by Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola and his delegation. Vincent Clerc, Group CEO of A.P. Moller – Maersk, signed on behalf of APM Terminals, alongside Didi Ndiomu, Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Ltd, and a representative of Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Ltd.
The Badagry project is designed as a greenfield deepwater facility, enabling significantly larger container vessels to berth in Nigerian waters. This will unlock new transshipment opportunities and improve trade efficiency across the West African sub-region.
Implications for existing terminals
The ministerial visit also included discussions on extending APM Terminals’ existing port concessions at Apapa Port in Lagos and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) in Onne. Igor van den Essen, Managing Director of Africa & Europe for APM Terminals, said: “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 do that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today. Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities.”
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The collaboration also marks a major milestone in public-private partnerships to modernize West Africa’s maritime logistics environment.
Government alignment and next steps
The Badagry deepwater facility directly supports the economic objectives set by the Nigerian federal government. By establishing a modern port outside congested urban corridors, the project is expected to catalyze regional economic growth, the formation of an industrial hub, and job creation.
Didi Ndiomu added: “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.”
With formal negotiations now set to proceed under the framework of the signed MoU, stakeholders are looking toward a new chapter in West African maritime logistics, one defined by deepwater capability, enhanced connectivity, and long-term economic prosperity.