APM Terminals Signs MoU for Proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport

By Stella Okocha 

APM Terminals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Badagry Port Development Limited and Quinn McGrath Marine and Environmental Services Limited to explore the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport in Lagos State.

Group CEO, A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc (left) and Managing Director, Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu at the signing of the MoU for the development of the Badagry Deep-Seaport in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026.

The agreement, signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026, is seen as a significant step towards advancing the greenfield port project and expanding Nigeria’s deepwater port capacity.

The signing took place during a visit to Denmark by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to strengthen maritime cooperation and attract investment into Nigeria’s port infrastructure.

The MoU was signed by Vincent Clerc, Group Chief Executive Officer of A.P. Moller–Maersk, on behalf of APM Terminals, and Didi Ndiomu, Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited.

Under the agreement, the parties will enter into exclusive negotiations to explore the development of Badagry Port, with APM Terminals indicating its commitment to taking the project forward.

The proposed port is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and create new opportunities for transshipment serving Nigeria and the wider West African market.

In the course of the Oyetola said the Federal Government was committed to modernising 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,” the minister said.

L–R: Group CEO A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc; Managing Director, Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu; Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; and Managing Director, Africa & Europe, APM Terminals, Igor van den Essen, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the Badagry Deep-Seaport in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026.

He added that partnering with global terminal operators such as APM Terminals on strategic greenfield projects like Badagry Port was central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub.

During the Danish visit, Oyetola and members of his delegation also held discussions with senior Danish government officials and representatives of the country’s maritime industry.

The engagements focused on strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation and exploring investment opportunities in Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

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

Igor van den Essen, Managing Director, Africa and Europe, APM Terminals, said the company was keen to deepen its long-term investment in Nigeria.

“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 doing that,” he said.

Van den Essen said the development of Badagry as a greenfield port could further ease congestion at existing city ports while creating new opportunities for trade.

He also stressed the importance of public-private partnerships in driving long-term investment, improving the business environment and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness.

“APM Terminals is 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, and we are proud to play a part in that ambition,” he said.

Ndiomu described the proposed investment as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.

He said the development of Badagry as a greenfield port, in partnership with APM Terminals, aligned with the Federal Government’s strategy to expand Nigeria’s maritime economy and strengthen its position within the global shipping network.

The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to complement existing port infrastructure by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger container vessels and increased cargo volumes.

The facility could also enhance Nigeria’s capacity to compete for regional transshipment traffic by allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through a strategically located deepwater port.

If developed as planned, the project could strengthen supply-chain resilience, expand Nigeria’s port capacity and create additional opportunities for trade and logistics across the region.

The MoU marks an important step towards advancing the Badagry project and further reinforces APM Terminals’ interest in Nigeria as a long-term investment destination within the West African maritime market.