Development of Lekki Port Phase 2 to Begin Soon, Says Sanwo-Olu
By Oluyinka Onigbinde
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced that development work on Phase 2 of the Lekki Deep Sea Port project will commence soon, further strengthening Lagos’ position as West Africa’s foremost maritime and logistics hub.
The governor made the disclosure at the Invest Lagos Summit 3.0, held on Tuesday at Eko Hotels & Suites, where he outlined the state’s ongoing investments in critical infrastructure aimed at driving trade, industrialisation, and economic growth.
Speaking on Lagos State’s strategic role in regional commerce, Sanwo-Olu noted that the impressive performance of the Lekki Deep Sea Port since its commencement of operations has accelerated plans for its expansion.
According to him, the port is already approaching the limits of its installed capacity, making Phase 2 a necessary step to accommodate increasing cargo volumes and support Nigeria’s growing participation in international trade.
“With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creating a market of over 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding $3 trillion, Lagos occupies a uniquely strategic position. The Lekki Deep Sea Port, within five years, is moving to phase two because it is almost reaching the full potential of its installed capacity. These are not just aspirations but projects that have been implemented and are under implementation. They have been funded, progressing, and transforming the investment landscape of our state,” the governor stated.
Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the expansion would significantly boost cargo handling capacity, improve trade efficiency, and reinforce Lagos’ status as a major gateway to the African market under the AfCFTA framework.
The development is expected to further enhance connectivity within regional and global supply chains while attracting new investments into the state’s maritime and logistics sector.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of Lekki Port, Wang Qiang, commended the Lagos State Government for creating and sustaining an investor-friendly environment that has enabled large-scale infrastructure projects to thrive.
Qiang described the commencement of Phase 2 as a significant milestone in the port’s development trajectory, noting that the expansion would increase operational capacity, improve logistics efficiency along the Lekki corridor, and attract additional global shipping and logistics investments.
“We are deeply encouraged by the continued support of the Lagos State Government, whose infrastructure-led policies have created a stable and forward-looking environment for long-term maritime investment. The commencement of the next phase of development represents a significant milestone in our journey to expand capacity, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen Lekki Port’s position as a premier gateway for West African trade under the AfCFTA framework,” he said.
Industry stakeholders have consistently identified the Lekki Deep Sea Port as one of Nigeria’s most transformative maritime infrastructure projects, with the capacity to reduce port congestion, improve trade facilitation, and support the country’s ambition of becoming a leading maritime and transshipment hub in Africa.
The planned Phase 2 expansion is expected to consolidate these gains while positioning Lagos to take advantage of emerging trade opportunities across the continent.
