<p data-path-to-node="3">In a transformative move for West African trade routes, DP World has formalized a $7 billion pact with the Ogun State Government in Nigeria to develop the Gateway Deep Seaport and an adjoining 10,000-hectare Blue Marine Special Economic Zone. This strategic mega-project is specifically designed to alleviate chronic freight pressure on the congested Apapa and Tin Can Island ports in Lagos.</p><p data-path-to-node="4">The proposed maritime facility, located at Ogun Waterside, will feature a sprawling four-kilometre berth with an 18-metre draft, equipping it to handle much larger deep-draft container vessels. By integrating the port directly with a special economic zone, the project will cater to large-scale manufacturing, processing, and export-driven businesses. It will allow imported inputs and local raw materials to be processed seamlessly into finished goods for both domestic markets and international trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.</p><p data-path-to-node="5">To support this massive logistics hub, the Nigerian federal government has committed to facilitating essential regulatory approvals alongside road, rail, and power connectivity. A crucial component of this network is the 28-kilometre Ogun section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is scheduled for completion before the end of 2026 to serve as a primary landside freight artery.</p>