Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has revealed that errors in the licence originally issued for the state’s deep seaport project were responsible for delays that stalled its take-off, a situation he said has now been fully resolved following the revalidation of the licence by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
The governor made this disclosure on Friday while addressing stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the party’s final expanded quarterly meeting for 2025 at the International Culture and Event Centre in Akure. He used the occasion to clarify public concerns surrounding the project and to highlight recent progress recorded by his administration in repositioning the state for industrial growth.
Governor Aiyedatiwa explained that the deep seaport licence, which was initially secured from the Federal Government during his tenure as deputy governor, encountered significant setbacks due to technical errors in the original business case submitted for approval. According to him, the most critical issue was a discrepancy in the name of the prospective investor, which meant that the licence was not issued in the correct corporate name.
“There was an error in the name of the potential investor, and that created serious challenges. The licence was not in the name of Deep Sea Port Limited, and because of that, we had to restart the entire process and prepare a fresh and comprehensive business case,” the governor said.
He disclosed that after addressing the errors and fulfilling all regulatory requirements, the Federal Executive Council approved the revalidation of the deep seaport licence, describing the decision as a major milestone that has restored momentum to one of the state’s most ambitious infrastructure projects.
The governor revealed that the deep seaport will be located in Erona, Ilaje Local Government Area, a coastal community that hosts Ondo State’s longest coastline and is strategically positioned as a gateway to global maritime trade. He noted that the project is expected to transform the area into a major logistics and industrial hub, with far-reaching implications for employment and economic expansion.
Beyond the seaport itself, Aiyedatiwa said the surrounding corridor is being developed into an integrated industrial zone. Planned projects include chemical plants for fertiliser production, the Sunshine Petroleum Zone and a modular refinery with a capacity of 500,000 barrels. He disclosed that these initiatives are at various stages of planning and development, with some already moving into the construction phase.
“A lot is happening. Memoranda of Understanding have been signed, land has been allocated and preliminary work has been completed. Construction has already commenced on the modular refinery,” he said, underscoring the state’s preparedness for large-scale investments.
The governor reiterated that infrastructure development remains a cornerstone of his administration’s economic strategy. He noted that access roads to industrial zones are being dualised, while broader modernisation projects are ongoing across the state. He added that preparations are also underway for residential, educational, healthcare and hospitality facilities to support the anticipated influx of workers, investors and businesses.
Governor Aiyedatiwa described the resolution of the licensing issue and the revalidation of the deep seaport licence as a turning point for Ondo State, stressing that the project aligns with his administration’s vision of unlocking the state’s coastal potential, attracting investment and driving sustainable economic development.