Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said the state is positioning itself as Africa’s foremost hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with investments in infrastructure, policy reforms, and economic clusters designed to attract global investors and boost regional trade.
Speaking during a high-level panel session titled “Investment Showcase: Unveiling Opportunities from Select African & Caribbean Sub-Sovereigns” at the ongoing Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF25) in Algiers, Algeria, the governor reaffirmed Ogun’s status as Nigeria’s top investment destination.
He stressed that the state’s vision is to provide scale, speed, and certainty for businesses, unlocking shared prosperity for the continent.
Governor Abiodun noted that despite Africa’s vast potential, intra-continental trade currently stands at only about 15 percent of total trade, hindered by weak infrastructure, cumbersome regulations, and fragmented value chains.
He explained that Ogun State is deliberately addressing these challenges through a clear economic transformation blueprint.
According to him, the plan includes multi-modal infrastructure such as the Gateway International Cargo Airport, Ijebu-Ode and Kajola Dry Ports, more than 1,200 kilometres of upgraded roads, and expanded gas networks.
He also listed the development of economic clusters and free trade zones across the state, including the Remo Economic Development Cluster, the Ijebu Economic Development Cluster, the Agbara Industrial Cluster, and the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
The governor further disclosed that Ogun has created a GIS-enabled Land Bank covering 300,000 hectares of pre-verified land, alongside the One-Stop Investment Center (OgunInvest), which simplifies permits, titles, and approvals for investors.
He highlighted policy certainty, risk-sharing partnerships with institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as well as structured government-industry dialogue as key factors making Ogun attractive to investors.
With its strategic location granting access to Lagos ports, ECOWAS markets, and the Benin Republic border, Governor Abiodun said Ogun is ready to become the engine room of AfCFTA.
“Ogun State is positioning itself as Nigeria’s foremost AfCFTA hub—where scale, speed, and certainty converge to unlock shared prosperity for Africa,” he said.
