Dangote Wants to Build Nigeria’s Biggest Free Zone in Ondo

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has reaffirmed plans to develop what he described as Nigeria’s biggest industrial and free trade zone at Olokola, Ondo State, with construction expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026.

Dangote disclosed this on Monday during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa at the governor’s office in Akure. He was accompanied by the Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, Olakunle Alake, and the Managing Director, Logistics and Infrastructure, Dangote Industries Limited, Capt. Jamil Abubakar.

According to Dangote, the Olokola project is being designed as a power-driven investment hub that will provide core utilities—power, water and logistics—so that investors can “plug in” without facing infrastructure delays.

“We want to create the biggest free trade zone where investors can just come and plug in. We will generate power, provide infrastructure and remove the bottlenecks around doing business,” Dangote said.

He said the initiative is aimed at tackling Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenge, which he described as the country’s biggest constraint to industrial growth for more than three decades, noting that many manufacturers still depend on self-generated power.

Dangote also said the project would include gas infrastructure, with plans tied to an east-west gas corridor to support energy-intensive industries within the zone.

He explained that Dangote Group had previously attempted investments in Olokola but faced operational challenges that led the company to focus major projects in Lagos. However, he said renewed engagement with Ondo State reflects improved conditions and stronger prospects for collaboration.

Dangote added that contractors are expected to mobilise to site within three to four months, while the main construction phase is scheduled for the last quarter of 2026. He also called for government participation in the project, requesting that the state nominate a representative to the industrial zone’s board to support coordination and execution.

He said the zone would drive large-scale job creation and industrial expansion in Ondo State and neighbouring areas, citing employment and export gains recorded from similar investments in Lagos.

In his response, Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the renewed investment plan, describing it as a significant boost to the state’s industrialisation agenda and a potential trigger for an “industrial revolution” in Ondo.

He said the project aligns with his administration’s efforts to position Ondo as a leading industrial destination in the South-West, citing the state’s location along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor as an advantage.

The governor also pointed to Ondo State’s deep seaport licence as a major logistics asset capable of handling large vessels without transshipment. He added that limestone deposits in the state had been tested and found suitable for industrial use, indicating potential for expanded cement production.

Aiyedatiwa said a technical committee has been set up to engage Dangote Group on legal, land, community and operational frameworks, and confirmed the state’s readiness to nominate a representative to the project board.

He assured full government support for the initiative, saying the state would work with investors and host communities to ensure smooth implementation and sustainability.