Afenifere Hails Ondo’s Deep Sea Port Revalidation For South-West Economy

THE prominent Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has praised Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, following the successful revalidation of the operating licence for the Ondo Deep Sea Port.

The group stated this significant achievement marks a major leap forward for regional economic development, solidifying Ondo State’s emergence as a crucial maritime and industrial hub for Nigeria.

In a statement issued by its National Organising Secretary, Kole Omololu, Afenifere said the revalidated licence clears all administrative hurdles and provides the legal certainty required for full-scale development to commence.

The organisation cited the project as evidence of “purposeful governance, strategic foresight and institutional discipline” in advancing initiatives of national and regional importance, which will further bolster investor confidence.

“The facility is uniquely positioned with a depth capable of accommodating very large vessels that cannot berth at existing ports in Lagos,” the statement read. “It will decongest Nigeria’s busiest maritime corridor, enhance cargo handling efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and lower logistics costs. This places Ondo State at the forefront of next-generation port infrastructure in the country.”

Afrifere highlighted that the benefits will extend beyond the state, stimulating economic activity across the South-West through industrial clustering, petrochemical expansion, agro-export processing, and manufacturing. Multiplier effects are expected to include job creation, skills development, technology transfer, and increased internally generated revenue for both state and federal governments.

Regionally, the port is set to become a vital gateway within the ECOWAS trade ecosystem, supporting integration, trans-shipment services, and West Africa’s global maritime participation, thereby advancing Nigeria’s leadership in sub-regional economic coordination.

Afenifere 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.

The group commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for maintaining momentum on the “transformative project” and urged continued collaboration amongst all stakeholders to ensure its timely execution and operational excellence.

Afenifere concluded by noting that the Ondo Deep Sea Port represents legacy infrastructure poised to deliver enduring prosperity for Ondo State, the South-West, and Nigeria as a whole.