CILT President, LASU prof to Headline 2026 Nigeria Transport Lecture on Multi-Modal system 

The President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and the Dean of the School of Transportation and Logistics, Lagos State University, Prof. Ogochukwu Ugboma, will headline the 12th edition of the Nigeria Transport Lecture scheduled for June 18, 2026, in Lagos.

The annual lecture, organised by Transport Day Media, is regarded as one of the country’s leading platforms for policy dialogue and industry engagements in the transportation and logistics sector.

This year’s edition, themed “Multi-modal Transportation Safety in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and Contribution to National Growth,” will bring together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to examine safety concerns, operational challenges and policy directions required to strengthen Nigeria’s evolving transport system.

The event will hold at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, according to a statement made available on Wednesday by the organisers.

The organisers also said discussions at the lecture would focus on improving safety across road, rail, air and maritime transportation as Nigeria intensifies efforts to develop an integrated multi-modal transport network capable of driving economic growth and national development.

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Over the years, it added that the Nigeria Transport Lecture had featured prominent policymakers and industry leaders, including former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside; former Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa; Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Dr. Kayode Opeifa; and former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s lecture, the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, described the programme as a strategic intervention aimed at addressing pressing challenges confronting the transport and logistics industry.

“Every year, we use the lecture as a platform to discuss contemporary issues shaping the industry. This year, we chose multi-modal transportation safety because without safety, ongoing transport initiatives by governments at different levels may not achieve their intended impact,” he said.

Kintum added that the lecture reflects the organisation’s commitment to promoting sustainable transportation policies and supporting the development of an efficient and globally competitive logistics industry in Nigeria and across Africa.

CILT President, LASU prof to Headline 2026 Nigeria Transport Lecture on Multi-Modal system

Dangote Unveils Olokola Mega Seaport Project Poised to be Africa’s largest

Dangote Group has commenced preliminary activities for the execution of the multi-billion-dollar Olokola Deep Sea Port project.

Projected to become Africa’s largest deep seaport, it is a strategic infrastructure development expected to reshape Nigeria’s maritime and industrial landscape.

The massive maritime and industrial hub, which forms a key pillar of Dangote Industries Limited’s “Vision 2030” agenda, will sit on more than 10,000 hectares within the Olokola Free Trade Zone, stretching across Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State to Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State along the Atlantic coastline.

The project has already secured the backing of host communities, traditional rulers and security agencies, with residents expressing optimism that the development would unlock unprecedented economic opportunities for the region.

Leading the company’s delegation to the project communities, the Managing Director of Infrastructure and Logistics at Dangote Industries Limited, Capt. Jamil Abubakar, described the Olokola Deep Sea Port as a transformational logistics gateway designed to strengthen Africa’s maritime trade capacity and accelerate industrial growth across the continent.

According to him, the seaport will serve as the logistics backbone for Dangote Industries, facilitating the export of fertilisers, petrochemicals and refined petroleum products, while also supporting future Liquefied Natural Gas exports and the importation of heavy industrial equipment.

Abubakar said the project represents a deliberate expansion into logistics, maritime infrastructure and export-driven industrialisation as the Dangote Group pushes toward its ambition of becoming a $100 billion annual revenue company and ranking among the world’s top 100 corporations within the next five years.

“The Olokola Port project is a major step toward unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential, reducing pressure on existing ports and strengthening industrial growth,” he said.

“It will create jobs, stimulate business activities and drive long-term development in Ogun and Ondo states. With its strategic location, Olokola will become a major gateway for exports and imports, boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.”

Abubakar assured the communities that continuous engagement would remain a central part of the execution process, noting that the project would deliver far-reaching economic and social benefits.

The Dangote team, accompanied by surveyors and environmental consultants, visited Ode-Omi in Ogun State, Araromi Seaside Kingdom and Igbokoda in Ondo State as part of stakeholder consultations and preliminary project activities.

Welcoming the delegation, the Lenuwa of Ode-Omi, Oba Folailu Adekunle Hassan (Oshotekun II), expressed delight over the choice of the area for the world-class maritime hub and pledged the community’s support.

“We have been expecting you for long. It is good that you are here today. Do your best and we will all benefit from this process,” the monarch said.

He also granted approval for the commencement of surveys, household enumeration and compensation processes linked to the project.

Similarly, the Alara of Araromi Seaside Kingdom, Oba Adeoloye Olawole, assured Dangote Industries of both physical and spiritual support for the project.

“We can’t wait for this project to commence. If it is possible for it to begin tomorrow, you are welcome,” the monarch declared.

In a further show of institutional support, the Dangote management also visited the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Igbokoda, where the Acting Commanding Officer, Lt. Commander A.A. Makinwa, pledged the Navy’s cooperation toward the successful execution of the project.

The proposed Olokola Deep Sea Port is expected to emerge as a major logistics and industrial hub capable of attracting foreign investment, boosting export diversification, deepening intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area and generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

Industry analysts believe the project could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s position as a regional maritime and industrial powerhouse while easing congestion at existing ports and opening up new economic corridors along the Gulf of Guinea.

Nigeria, Ghana to Benefit From New US-Backed Telecom Expansion

The United States government has launched a major digital infrastructure initiative aimed at deploying approximately 1,500 wireless communication base stations across parts of West Africa, including Nigeria, in what analysts see as a strategic move to counter growing Chinese dominance in Africa’s telecommunications sector.

The initiative, announced by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, will cover Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, with the U.S. government funding a feasibility study to assess the commercial viability of deploying turnkey mobile communication infrastructure across the four countries.

According to the agency, the study will be carried out for Vanu Côte d’Ivoire, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based technology company Vanu Inc., which specialises in wireless connectivity solutions for underserved and remote communities.

Georgia-based Vernonburg Group LLC has been selected to conduct the feasibility study. The assessment will examine existing telecommunications infrastructure, evaluate market opportunities, review legal and regulatory frameworks and develop financing strategies for the eventual rollout of the wireless stations.

USTDA Deputy Director Thomas R. Hardy described the initiative as part of Washington’s broader effort to expand “trusted” digital infrastructure in emerging markets while supporting American technology exports.

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“USTDA is bringing private sector solutions to unlock widespread, affordable, trusted internet access in off-grid communities across West Africa,” Hardy said.

“By helping American companies compete in these critical markets, we are offering an alternative to insecure infrastructure while creating export opportunities that make America more prosperous,” he added.

The remarks are widely viewed as a direct reference to Chinese telecommunications giants such as Huawei and ZTE, whose equipment currently dominates large sections of Africa’s telecom infrastructure.

In recent years, the United States has intensified efforts to persuade allies and developing nations to reduce reliance on Chinese-built telecommunications systems, citing cybersecurity and national security concerns.

The latest U.S.-backed project signals an extension of that strategic rivalry into West Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy and rural broadband market.

Chief Executive Officer of Vanu Inc., Andrew Beard, said the project would demonstrate that delivering reliable internet and voice connectivity to remote and economically challenging regions could be commercially sustainable.

“The USTDA study will help catalyse new investment, expand U.S. exports, and accelerate deployment of trusted, secure digital infrastructure to connect billions of people worldwide,” Beard stated.

Vanu already maintains operations in parts of West Africa and has previously deployed off-grid wireless solutions in Nigeria’s Edo and Delta states, as well as in Benin, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

The company focuses on low-cost, solar-powered and software-defined wireless systems capable of operating in remote communities with limited electricity and infrastructure.

Industry experts say the project could significantly improve broadband penetration across underserved rural communities where millions of residents still depend on outdated 2G and 3G networks or have no reliable internet access at all.

The planned deployment is also expected to support digital inclusion, mobile banking, e-learning, telemedicine, e-commerce and other technology-driven economic activities across the region.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest telecommunications market by subscriber base, has continued to prioritise broadband expansion under its digital economy agenda. However, significant connectivity gaps remain in many rural and underserved communities due to infrastructure costs, inconsistent power supply and limited private investment.

Analysts say the proposed U.S.-supported wireless infrastructure could help bridge the urban-rural digital divide while increasing competition within the region’s telecom sector.

The development comes at a time when African governments are accelerating investments in digital infrastructure, 5G technology and internet accessibility as part of broader economic diversification and technological transformation strategies.

Nigeria, Ghana to Benefit From New US-Backed Telecom Expansion