- Group Chief Executive Officer, A.P. Moller–Maersk, Vincent Clerc (left), and the Managing Director, Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu, at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the development of the Badagry Deep-Seaport
APM Terminals’ takeover of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport development will make the facility a game-changer in West Africa’s cargo transshipment business, with the greenfield port project expected to provide additional deepwater capacity for larger container vessels.
To that end, a federal delegation to Denmark, led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APM Terminals for the latter to develop the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport.
Signed in Copenhagen on September 7, 2026, 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, the MoU comes as Nigeria pushes to strengthen maritime cooperation with the country and attract further investment to the port infrastructure.
The agreement commits the parties to exclusive negotiations to explore the development of Badagry Port, with APM Terminals expressing its commitment to carry the project forward.
The development formed part of broader engagements during Oyetola’s visit to Denmark, where the minister and his delegation held discussions with senior representatives of the Danish Government and the wider Danish maritime sector.
Oyetola said the federal government remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for long-term private-sector investment in the sector.
“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 Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr Bolaji Akinola, quoted him to say.
“Partnering global terminal operators like APM Terminals to explore strategic greenfield developments such as the Badagry Port is central to President Bola Tinubu’s vision of positioning Nigeria as West Africa’s premier trade and logistics hub.”
As part of the engagement, the parties also discussed extending 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 that could handle larger vessels and support increased cargo volumes.
APM Terminals said the development could transform Nigeria’s role in West African trade, particularly by creating significant new transshipment opportunities
According to the Managing Director of APM Terminals, Africa and Europe, Igor van den Essen, “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 do that, and we were pleased to have a constructive dialogue about this. Additionally, developing Badagry as a greenfield project will further ease congestion in city ports and further open new opportunities.”
The company also welcomed the Nigerian government’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen the country’s position as a leading maritime gateway in West Africa.
“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,” Igor van den Essen said.
For his part, the Managing Director of Badagry Port Development Limited, Didi Ndiomu, described the proposed investment as the beginning of a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime development.
According to him, “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.”
The project will also enhance Nigeria’s capacity to serve as a regional transshipment hub, allowing cargo destined for other West and Central African markets to be handled through a strategically located deepwater facility.
