Tinubu Cuts Ribbon on Lekki’s Mega Highway, Tours Dangote’s Oil Refinery

By: Manoah Kikekon

Lekki deep seaport 

President Bola Tinubu today stepped into the spotlight as he unveiled the newly reconstructed Lekki-Epe Deep Seaport Road, a critical infrastructure project set to transform trade and transportation in Nigeria’s bustling economic hub.  

Built under the innovative Tax Credit Scheme and fully funded by the Dangote Group, the expansive highway is expected to ease congestion, boost port operations, and drive commerce along the rapidly growing Lekki corridor.  

But the president wasn’t done yet. In a surprise move, Tinubu took his first official tour of the colossal Dangote Refinery Africa’s largest oil refinery with a staggering 650,000-barrel-per-day capacity. Since taking office in 2023, this marked his maiden visit to the game-changing facility, sparking speculation about new energy sector policies in the works.  

The high-profile event drew Nigeria’s elite, including Africa’s richest man and Dangote Group Chairman, Aliko Dangote; banking mogul Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank; and even Microsoft co-founder and global philanthropist Bill Gates, whose presence hinted at potential big-ticket investments in Nigeria’s infrastructure.  

Also in attendance were key government figures, including Works Minister Dave Umahi and Marine & Blue Economy Minister Gboyega Oyetola, alongside a lineup of state governors—Ogun’s Dapo Abiodun, Kaduna’s Uba Sani, Enugu’s Peter Mbah, Plateau’s Caleb Muftwang, and Borno’s Babagana Zulum—signaling nationwide interest in the project’s success.  

The Lekki Deep Seaport is no ordinary port—it’s West Africa’s largest, designed to supercharge Nigeria’s import-export capacity and position the country as a continental trade giant. With smoother, faster access via the new road, businesses can expect quicker turnaround times, reduced logistics costs, and a major boost to Lagos’ status as a global commerce hotspot.  

As Tinubu wrapped up his tour, industry watchers are already buzzing: Is this the start of a new era for Nigerian infrastructure? One thing’s certain—today’s grand unveiling just set the stage for bigger things to come.