By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– Nigeria’s push to ease the long-standing congestion at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports and unlock trade efficiency is gaining financial backing, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s UK visit coincided with a £746 million deal to overhaul Lagos’ busiest gateways.
The agreement, signed between the Ministry of Finance led by Wale Edun and Citi, targeted the overburdened Apapa and Tin Can Island port facilities, widely seen as bottlenecks draining billions from Nigeria’s trade and logistics value chain.
The deal is aimed at easing congestion, improving efficiency, and strengthening Nigeria’s trade capacity.
Among other strategic deals was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Asset Green Ltd to explore the development of a large-scale, integrated dairy production and processing platform.
The initiative was designed to strengthen Nigeria’s dairy value chain, reduce reliance on imported milk powder, improve infant nutrition, and support sustainable job creation, while reinforcing Nigeria–UK collaboration on food security and development.
The proposed project will cover 20,000 hectares for precision agriculture and regenerative feed production, alongside a dairy farm with up to 10,000 milking cows and a processing facility with an annual capacity of 200,000 tonnes, built to international standards.
Expected to generate over 2,500 direct jobs and more than 5,000 indirect jobs, the project represents a catalytic, platform scale investment aligned with NSIA’s mandate to mobilise capital, strengthen local value chains, and anchor a transformative food security and nutrition asset for Nigeria.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, said the project is a transformative investment valued at nearly $500 million.
“By combining climate smart farming, advanced processing, and inclusive out-grower participation, we are building a modern, competitive dairy sector,” he said.
“This will reduce import dependence, create jobs, and deliver long-term value for Nigerians.”
Also commenting, Rod Bassett, Director at Asset Green, said the partnership would unlock Nigeria’s agricultural potential.
British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, said the partnership reflects enduring economic ties between Nigeria and the UK, noting that the UK supported the establishment of the NSIA more than a decade ago by providing legal and financial expertise that strengthened its governance.
“That early investment has paid dividends, helping build a resilient institution capable of driving long-term development,” he said.The envoy described the NSIA–Asset Green collaboration as a “full-circle moment” in bilateral relations and a signal of shared commitment to sustainable growth.
