Ogun State has intensified its campaign to attract global investment, with Governor Dapo Abiodun positioning the state as Nigeria’s top gateway to opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, Governor Abiodun said Ogun remains Nigeria’s foremost investment destination, backed by bold reforms, infrastructure expansion, and pro-investor policies.
He addressed stakeholders during a high-level panel titled “Investment Showcase: Unveiling Opportunities from Select African & Caribbean Sub-Sovereigns.”
Governor Abiodun outlined Ogun’s comprehensive development strategy, emphasizing that the state is “actively breaking trade barriers through bold initiatives designed to attract investment and deepen trade.”
He listed ongoing and completed projects that are reshaping the state’s investment climate. These include:
Gateway International Cargo Airport – a world-class cargo hub serving as a backbone for exports.
Ijebu-Ode and Kajola Dry Ports – to ease cargo clearance and facilitate regional trade.
1,200 kilometres of upgraded roads – improving logistics and access to industrial hubs.
Expanded gas reticulation networks – supporting manufacturing and powering industries.
According to Abiodun, these investments are part of a deliberate strategy to ensure Ogun becomes the industrial and logistics heartbeat of Nigeria under AfCFTA.
The governor highlighted the state’s industrial clusters and free trade zones, which have become magnets for foreign and local investors.
Remo Economic Development Cluster – anchored by the new Gateway Airport.
Ijebu Cluster – strategically close to the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Free Trade Zone.
Agbara Industrial Cluster – already home to major multinationals in FMCG and manufacturing.
Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone – one of Nigeria’s most active special economic zones, driving exports and industrialisation.
“These clusters provide ready-made infrastructure and investor-friendly frameworks, allowing businesses to scale quickly and access regional markets,” Abiodun said.
To boost investor confidence, the governor explained that Ogun has simplified bureaucratic processes through the One-Stop Investment Centre (OgunInvest).
Investors can now access land titles, permits, and approvals more efficiently through a GIS-enabled Land Bank with 300,000 hectares of pre-verified land.
The state also provides policy certainty through its 2019 Public-Private Partnership Law, which formalises collaboration with private investors.
Additionally, Ogun has risk-sharing frameworks with international partners like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Abiodun added that regular dialogue with industry players ensures that government policies remain responsive to investor needs.
Ogun’s location remains one of its strongest selling points. Bordered by Lagos, the Republic of Benin, and close to ECOWAS markets, the state is naturally positioned as a regional trade hub.
“With these interventions, Ogun State is positioning itself as Nigeria’s foremost AfCFTA hub, where scale, speed, and certainty converge to unlock shared prosperity for Africa,” the governor declared.
Governor Abiodun stressed that for AfCFTA to succeed, subnational governments must play a pivotal role.
He noted that while Africa has vast trade potential, intra-continental trade is still just 15 per cent of total trade, limited by weak infrastructure, fragmented value chains, and cumbersome regulations.
He urged subnational leaders to drive reforms that would open markets, create jobs, and reduce dependence on extra-African trade partners.
The showcase in Algiers comes at a time when African countries are competing for foreign direct investment (FDI) to boost industrial growth.
With AfCFTA covering a potential market of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion, subnational governments like Ogun are strategically leveraging their unique strengths to attract investors.
Analysts note that Ogun’s proactive participation at the IATF reinforces its reputation as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing industrial hubs.
Already home to leading companies in FMCG, manufacturing, and logistics, the state continues to outpace others in industrial output.
As Africa deepens trade integration under AfCFTA, Ogun State is setting the pace for subnational competitiveness by aligning infrastructure, policy reforms, and investment incentives.
Governor Abiodun’s message in Algiers underscores the state’s ambition to be not just a Nigerian powerhouse, but a continental trade hub driving inclusive growth.
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