The President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Ltd, Alhaji Aliko Dangote on Monday said they would return return to  Olokola Free Trade Zone in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state to continue with the plan to construct the largest seaport in Nigeria.

Dangote also said that the company had resumed work on the six million metric tons capacity cement factory at Itori in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.

He said that the cement factory, being constructed at the cost of about $800 million, will come on stream by November 2026.

The billionaire industrialist disclosed that the cement factory would have been completed long time ago if not for the hostile attitude of one time governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun.

He said, “When we started building the new cement factory at Itori, former Governor Amosun demolished it, we came back again and restarted the project but Governor Amosun also came again, demolished the factory and even the fencing, so we left.

“But because of my brother, Governor Dapo Abiodun we are back to the site and you will be surprised with the level of work ongoing there.”

Dangote said that he was in the state to update the governor on the progress of work at the cement plant.

He stated that the state currently hosts the 12 million metric tons Dangote Cement Plant at Ibese, adding that when the Itori plant is completed, 18Mta of cement will be rolled out of the state, the highest from any region in Africa.

On the seaport project, Dangote said, although they had abandoned the idea, they are now back.

“We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s policies and investor friendly environment, I want to say we are back and are going to work with the government and return to Olokola and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country.”

Dangote said that his investment in cement manufacturing has made Nigeria self-sufficient in the product, effectively ending importation and marking its transformation into a cement exporting nation.

He explained, “We have also repeated the feat in production of fertilizer as Nigeria is now self-sufficient, with the surplus going for the export market thereby generating foreign exchange earnings for the country.

“We rolled out automotive gas oil (AGO) in January 2024 and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in September 2024 from our 650,000 barrels per day petroleum refinery located in Ibeju-Lekki. Other products from the refinery include aviation fuels, LPG, and carbon black.

“The refinery has the capacity to meet domestic demand for all refined petroleum products. Today we have repeated the cement story, where a country that was once a net importer of a product, is now exporting refined petroleum products.”

He reiterated that the goals of Dangote Industries is to make Nigeria self-sufficient in whatever we consume since there is abundant natural resources for the domestic manufacturing of these products and commodities.

Dangote explained that key factor that drives investments in any economy is the presence of an investor-friendly business climate, lauding Gov Abiodun for his various deliberate policies which has made the state one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria.

Responding, Governor Abiodun lauded Dangote for being an exemplary industrialist who has remained undaunted in his determination to industrialise the country.

Abiodun hailed the industrialist for returning back to the state to construct $800m cement factory at Itori despite the needless opposition of his predecessor saying this confirmed the uniqueness of the Dangote brand and his undiluted love for Nigeria.

The governor also lauded Dangote for the ongoing construction of Sagamu Interchange to Papalanto describing the road as very critical to economic growth and prosperity of the state.

Abiodun said that his government will continue to create enabling environment to further attract investors to the state.

The governor described Dangote’s visit as historical saying that it has provided opportunity for the government to engage with the industrialist on issues bordering further economic development of the state.