APM Terminals has taken a major step towards the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Badagry Port Development Limited to advance negotiations on the greenfield project.
The agreement was signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Monday, September 7, 2026, during a visit by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, who led a Federal Government delegation to Denmark to deepen 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 Badagry Port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to taking the project forward.
The proposed port is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity for Nigeria, accommodate larger container vessels and create new transshipment opportunities for Nigeria and the wider West African market.
Project to Expand Nigeria’s Deepwater Capacity
The development of the Badagry port formed part of broader maritime engagements during Oyetola’s visit to Denmark, where the minister and his delegation held discussions with senior Danish government officials and representatives of the country’s maritime sector.
Oyetola said the Federal Government remained committed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure while creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment.
“Our engagement in Denmark underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and unlocking the full potential of our blue economy.
“Partnering global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub”, he said.
During the engagement with APM Terminals, discussions also covered the extension of the company’s port concessions at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne.
The proposed Badagry project is expected to complement existing port infrastructure by providing a new deepwater gateway capable of handling larger vessels and increased cargo volumes.
It is also expected to ease pressure on existing city ports while strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a regional transshipment hub.
APM Terminals Sees West African Trade Opportunity
The Managing Director, Africa and Europe, APM Terminals, part of the A.P. Moller–Maersk Group, Igor van den Essen, said the company was keen to support Nigeria’s economic growth and its emergence as a major West African trade hub.
He said further long-term investment in the company’s Apapa and Onne concessions, alongside the development of Badagry as a greenfield project, could help unlock new opportunities for the Nigerian economy.
“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, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this today.
“Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestions in city ports and further open new opportunities”, van den Essen said.
He added that APM Terminals was encouraged by the Federal Government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa.
“We are proud to play a part in that ambition. We strongly believe that public-private partnerships help us deliver results that support growth because they drive long-term investment, a better business environment and, thereby, competitiveness in a rapidly developing market”, he said.
Ndiomu: Badagry Signals New Maritime Phase
For Ndiomu, the proposed investment marks the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.
“Investing in maritime infrastructure and especially in Badagry as a greenfield port project together with APM Terminals is the beginning of Nigeria becoming the true maritime capital of sub-Saharan Africa in full alignment with the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious maritime growth strategy”, he said.
The proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s port network by enabling larger container vessels to call at the country, while improving supply-chain resilience and opening new trade opportunities.
The facility is also expected to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a regional transshipment hub, enabling cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through a strategically located deepwater facility.