Ogun Coastal Highway Section To Be Completed In 2026 As Deep Sea Port Project Gains Momentum

The Ogun State Government has announced that the 28-kilometre stretch of the Federal Government’s Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway passing through the state will be completed before the end of 2026, a development expected to accelerate the growth of the proposed Ogun Deep Sea Port and other maritime investments along the coastline.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this while commissioning the reconstructed Gao-Ibiade Road in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, describing the coastal highway as a major catalyst for industrialisation, trade, tourism and economic development in the state.

The governor said the project would provide the much-needed transportation link to unlock the economic potential of Ogun Waterside, noting that poor access infrastructure had previously slowed the development of the proposed deep seaport.

According to him, the state government deliberately worked with relevant authorities to secure a highway alignment that would support the port project by ensuring that the road runs between three and five kilometres from the coastline.

Abiodun explained that the absence of an efficient evacuation corridor had been one of the major challenges facing the proposed port, as the previous access route relied mainly on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, located about 35 kilometres away from the coastal area.

He said the emergence of the coastal highway had renewed investor interest in Ogun Waterside, with more businesses now considering the area for maritime, industrial and logistics investments.

“Today, with the coastal road coming just a few kilometres from the coastline, everybody now wants to build a port in Ogun Waterside,” the governor said.

He also revealed that discussions with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) were progressing towards reviving the long-abandoned Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas (OKLNG) project, while oil exploration activities were ongoing to determine the availability of commercial reserves in the area.

The governor stated that the combination of the coastal highway, the planned Deep Sea Port, oil exploration and the possible revival of OKLNG would transform Ogun Waterside into a major economic hub, creating employment opportunities and increasing revenue generation for the state.

Abiodun expressed confidence that the Ogun Deep Sea Port would become one of the leading ports in sub-Saharan Africa, adding that plans were underway to establish a naval base and dockyard within the port complex to enhance maritime security and support commercial activities.

Reflecting on the historical challenges faced by Ogun Waterside, the governor said the area had suffered decades of neglect despite its significant economic potential, promising continued investment in roads and critical infrastructure to prepare it for future growth.

He announced that reconstruction work would soon begin on the J4-Gao Road, while the remaining stretch connecting Gao to Abigi, the headquarters of Ogun Waterside Local Government, would also be rehabilitated.

The governor said the projects were part of his administration’s broader plan to ensure balanced development across Ogun State and position all parts of the state to benefit from emerging economic opportunities.