APM Terminals Signs MoU To Develop Badagry Deep-Seaport

APM Terminals has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Badagry Port Development Limited to explore the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport in Lagos State.

The agreement was signed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark, during a visit by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to the country to strengthen maritime cooperation and attract investment into Nigeria’s port infrastructure.

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

Under the agreement, the parties will enter into exclusive negotiations to explore the development of the greenfield Badagry Port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to advancing the project.

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

Speaking during the engagement, Oyetola said the Federal Government was committed to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment.

He said the partnership with global terminal operators such as APM Terminals was central to President Bola Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as a major trade and logistics hub in West Africa.

The minister said the Badagry project would complement existing port infrastructure while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to handle increasing cargo volumes and attract larger vessels.

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

APM Terminals’ Managing Director for Africa and Europe, Igor van den Essen, said the company was keen to contribute to Nigeria’s economic growth and strengthen its position as a regional trade hub.

According to him, further investment in the company’s existing concessions at Apapa and Onne, alongside the development of Badagry as a greenfield port, could help ease congestion at existing city ports and create new opportunities for trade.

Van den Essen said public-private partnerships could support long-term investment, improve the business environment and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness.

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

He said developing Badagry as a greenfield deep-seaport in partnership with APM Terminals aligned with the Federal Government’s strategy to expand Nigeria’s maritime economy.

The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s port network by enabling larger container vessels to berth in the country, improving supply-chain resilience and creating new trade opportunities.

The project is also expected to boost Nigeria’s potential as a regional transshipment hub, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through the facility.