Afenifere commends Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for securing the Ondo Deep Seaport licence, signalling growth for the state and South-West maritime sector

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has commended Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for securing the revalidation of the operating licence for the Ondo Deep Seaport project.

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Originally approved by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, the licence was submitted to the Federal Government for revalidation following alleged errors in the initial document. Governor Aiyedatiwa recently received the revalidated licence from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Afenifere Organising Secretary Kole Omololu described the project as a historic milestone, signalling Ondo State’s emergence as a key maritime and industrial hub in Nigeria.

“The revalidated licence removes all administrative encumbrances and provides the legal and regulatory certainty needed for full-scale development,” the statement read.

Afenifere noted that the seaport, uniquely positioned with sufficient depth to accommodate very large vessels unable to berth at existing Lagos ports, would decongest Nigeria’s busiest maritime corridor, enhance cargo handling efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and lower logistics costs.

The group added that the facility would drive economic activity across the South-West through industrial clustering, petrochemical expansion, agro-export processing, and manufacturing value chains.

“Multiplier effects include job creation, skills development, technology transfer, and increased internally generated revenue for state and federal governments,” it said.

Afenifere further highlighted the project’s regional importance, noting that it would serve as a vital gateway in the ECOWAS ecosystem, supporting trade integration, trans-shipment services, and West Africa’s global maritime participation.

The statement also acknowledged the supportive role of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in aligning the project with national priorities, particularly economic diversification through the blue economy framework.

“We commend Governor Aiyedatiwa for sustaining momentum on this transformative project and urge continued collaboration among stakeholders to ensure timely execution and operational excellence.