Ondo State Set for Industrial Revolution as Dangote Unveils Nigeria’s Biggest Industrial Free Trade Zone

By Ademola Adekusibe
15 June, 2026

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has reaffirmed plans to develop a large-scale industrial and free trade zone at Olokola in Ondo State, describing it as a power-driven investment hub designed to attract manufacturers and reduce infrastructure constraints for investors.

Dangote made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa in Akure on Monday, outlining a renewed investment framework covering power generation, cement production, gas infrastructure, and industrial manufacturing. He said the proposed Olokola project would go beyond a conventional free trade zone, fully equipped with power, water, and logistics infrastructure.

“We want to create the biggest free trade zone where investors can just come and plug in. We will generate power, provide infrastructure, and remove the bottlenecks around doing business,” Dangote said.

He noted that the absence of reliable power had slowed industrial expansion across the country, adding that the new model would integrate dedicated energy supply into the industrial zone. He also disclosed plans to integrate gas infrastructure through an east-west gas corridor to support energy-intensive industries.

According to Dangote, contractors are expected to mobilise to site within three to four months, with full construction scheduled to commence in the last quarter of 2026. He also indicated that the project structure would include government participation, requesting the nomination of a state representative to the board of the industrial zone.

Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the investment, describing it as a major milestone in Ondo State’s industrialisation agenda. He stated that the project aligns with his administration’s efforts to position the state as a leading industrial destination in the South-West, noting its strategic location along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor and the state’s deep seaport licence.

The Governor confirmed that a technical committee had been established to engage with Dangote Group on legal, land, community, and operational frameworks, assuring full government backing for the initiative.