Dangote meets Aiyedatiwa, plans biggest free trade zone in Ondo

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has reaffirmed plans to develop a significant industrial and free trade zone at Olokola in Ondo State. Described as a power-driven investment hub, the project is designed to attract manufacturers by addressing infrastructure constraints. Dangote met with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure on Monday to discuss the renewed investment framework, which encompasses power generation, cement production, gas infrastructure, and industrial manufacturing.

Dangote explained that the Olokola project would be more than a conventional free trade zone, offering fully equipped power, water, and logistics infrastructure to ensure investors can operate without delays. "We want to create the biggest free trade zone where investors can just come and plug in. We will generate power, provide infrastructure and remove the bottlenecks around doing business," he stated. He noted that the initiative aims to tackle Nigeria's long-standing power deficit, which has hindered industrial expansion for over three decades, as most manufacturers currently rely on self-generated electricity.

“

We want to create the biggest free trade zone where investors can just come and plug in. We will generate power, provide infrastructure and remove the bottlenecks around doing business.

Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed Dangote's investment drive, calling it a major milestone for Ondo State's industrialization. He emphasized that the proposed project aligns with his administration's goal to position the state as a leading industrial destination in the South-West, citing its strategic location along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor. The governor also highlighted the state's deep seaport license as a key logistics advantage. A technical committee has been formed to collaborate with the Dangote Group on legal, land, community, and operational frameworks, with the state ready to nominate a representative to the project board.

“

The proposed project aligns with his administration’s efforts to position the state as a leading industrial destination in the South-West, noting its strategic location along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor.