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THE AFRICA GIANT IS RISING – COMMISSIONED WAGL
THE AFRICA GIANT IS RISING – COMMISSIONED WAGL
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
In Ulsan, South Korea on August 18, 2025
Nigeria took a very bold stride in its journey toward energy independence and continental leadership as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commissioned WAGL Energy Limited’s 40,000 cubic metres Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel – MT Iyaloja (Lagos) – in Ulsan, South Korea.
The vessel, jointly owned by NNPC Ltd. and Sahara Group under their joint venture WAGL Energy, expands the company’s LPG shipping fleet capacity to 162,000 CBM, joining MT Africa Gas, MT Sahara Gas, MT BaruMK, and MT Sapet. This milestone establishes WAGL as one of Africa’s most formidable indigenous LPG fleet operators.
For decades, Nigeria depended heavily on foreign-chartered LPG vessels, spending an estimated $70–80 million annually on freight charges and middleman premiums. With this commissioning, Nigeria stands to save at least $50 million each year, funds that can be redirected into domestic gas infrastructure, energy affordability, and social development.
A Break from the Past
Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, described the commissioning as a symbol of Nigeria’s determination to rewrite its energy story.
“Nigeria is no longer content with being a raw material exporter. We will lead Africa in clean and sustainable energy solutions. This commissioning breaks barriers that kept our nation dependent and ensures our resources work for our people,” President Tinubu declared.
The vessel, named in honour of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the late mother of the President, reflects both cultural symbolism and economic intent.
Industry Voices
Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., represented by Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, EVP Gas, Power & New Energy, highlighted the vessel’s strategic impact:
“The MT is a game-changer. It strengthens our ability to deliver LPG to Nigerians at affordable rates while saving our economy millions of dollars previously lost to foreign chartering.”
Mr. Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said the vessel proves Africa can bridge its own energy gaps:
“This commissioning is progress you can measure — in savings, in access, and in independence. It demonstrates that Africa has the capacity to take control of its energy future.”
Mr. Mohammed Sani Bello, Managing Director of WAGL Energy Ltd., revealed ambitious expansion plans:
“Within two years, we will add both a Small Gas Carrier and a Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC). These assets will consolidate Nigeria’s position as Africa’s clean energy hub.”
10 MAJOR BENEFITS TO NIGERIA & AFRICA
1. Annual savings of $50m+ from reduced foreign-charter costs.
2. 162,000CBM LPG fleet capacity, one of Africa’s strongest.
3. Cleaner energy access, reducing kerosene and firewood reliance.
4. Affordable LPG prices for Nigerian households.
5. Nigeria as West Africa’s LPG hub for trade and distribution.
6. Forex preservation by ending excessive foreign freight payments.
7. Industrial competitiveness with cheaper gas for manufacturing.
8. Job creation across shipping, logistics, and retail networks.
9. Investor confidence in Tinubu’s energy reforms.
10. Continental progress through wider African access to cleaner fuels.
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The commissioning of MT Iyaloja (Lagos) is not merely a maritime event. It is a strategic declaration of intent — that Nigeria will not remain trapped in cycles of dependency and inefficiency.
With projected annual savings of over $50 million, Nigeria now holds the tools to drive down household gas costs, expand industrial capacity, and reposition itself as Africa’s clean energy giant.
The task ahead lies in ensuring these benefits reach the Nigerian people: lower prices in the markets, steady gas supply for industries, and clean cooking fuel for rural households.
If momentum is sustained, this vessel could be remembered as the turning point when Nigeria, long an oil giant, finally rose as Africa’s clean energy power.
At least 23 people were killed in a series of suspected suicide bombings, police in Nigeria’s northeastern city of Maiduguri said on Tuesday.
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More than 100 other people were injured in the blasts that took place on Monday evening in the capital of Nigeria’s restive Borno state.
No group has claimed responsibility for the suspected attacks.
The deadly blasts come after a military post was attacked overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected Islamist militants.
This sad incident is coming barely two weeks after Primate Elijah Ayodele, the Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church specifically warned against attacks in some states. He mentioned these states while calling on security operatives to pay close attention to them.
These were his words:
“Another attack is coming up in these following states where the military must watch carefully and intelligently; Kano, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Kwara and Kogi state. They want to do a deadly attack, it’s preventable but it depends on how they will handle it. I have told you about the danger coming up.”
@primateayodele
Unfortunately, some of our military agencies don’t believe spiritual intelligence can save the country from so much danger hence, their neglect of this prophetic warning but now, it has been fulfilled with the miliary losing credibility by the day while Primate Ayodele continues to gain momentum.
Likewise, At least 26 passengers and crew sustained varying degrees of injuries on Monday following an accident involving the Kaduna–Abuja train, according to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).
Opeifa explained that the train departed Rigasa in Kaduna at 7:15 a.m. and was approaching Asham station around 9:16 a.m. when a loud bang was heard after the power car and trailing locomotive collided with one of the passenger coaches.
In July 2025, Primate Ayodele asked nigerians to pray not to see train mishap on the Kaduna-Abuja route.
@primateayodele #nigeriantiktok🇳🇬 #fulfillment #train #abuja #primateayodele
“Let’s pray not to see train mishap in Abuja-Kaduna, Kaduna-Abuja route.”
This has also been fulfilled.
The project ends decades search for investors, boosts Nigeria’s blue economy
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
Nigeria’s maritime sector is set for a major transformation following a landmark agreement involving the world’s largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), which has secured a 45-year concession to build, manage and operate a modern container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos.
The project, to be developed in partnership with Nigerdock, marks one of the most significant private sector investments in Nigeria’s port infrastructure in recent decades and is expected to strengthen the country’s role as a major maritime gateway in West and Central Africa.
For Nigeria, the agreement brings to close decades of efforts to attract large-scale investors to develop Snake Island Port, a strategically located maritime asset in Lagos.
Long-standing concession history
Snake Island’s maritime facilities date back several decades. In 1992, the Federal Government granted a 99-year concession for the island’s port and industrial facilities to Nigerdock, a major maritime engineering and logistics company.
Nigerdock was later privatised and is currently operated by the Jagal Group owned by Nigerian industrialist Maher Jarmakani.
Over the years, the Island Container Terminal fell into disrepair, requiring major rehabilitation and modernization to meet modern global shipping standards.
The new partnership with MSC is expected to transform the port into a state-of-the-art container handling facility capable of attracting larger vessels and increasing Nigeria’s cargo throughput capacity.
Buhari administration approved the project.
The investment framework for the Snake Island development was approved in May 2023 by the Federal Executive Council under then President Muhammadu Buhari.
The approval authorised total private investment of approximately $974.1 million for the project under a Public-Private Partnership structure, including the 45-year concession period.
At the same time, the Federal Government also approved two other major maritime infrastructure projects:
• Development of the Ondo Multipurpose Port in Ilaje, Ondo State, with $1.48 billion in private investment and a 50-year concession.
• Expansion and development of the Burutu Sea Port in Delta State, involving $1.2 billion in private investment and a 40-year concession.
These projects form part of Nigeria’s broader effort to develop its blue economy and expand maritime trade capacity.
Construction partners
Engineering and construction of the Snake Island container terminal will be handled by:
• ITB Nigeria Limited
• DEME Group
ITB Nigeria Limited is part of the Chagoury Group and owned by the Chagoury family, while DEME Group is a globally recognised Belgian marine engineering and dredging company with extensive experience in port construction.
MSC profile
Founded in 1970 by Italian shipping entrepreneur Gianluigi Aponte and his wife Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, MSC has grown from a single cargo vessel into the largest container shipping company in the world.
Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the company operates in more than 155 countries and serves over 500 ports worldwide, with a fleet of roughly 900 container ships and over 200,000 employees globally.
The MSC Group also operates major logistics and maritime businesses including inland logistics through Medlog, cruise tourism through MSC Cruises, and port terminal operations across several continents.
According to Forbes, the estimated net worth of MSC founder Gianluigi Aponte is about $43.9 billion as of February 2026, placing him among the world’s richest shipping magnates. The company remains privately owned by the Aponte family, with both founders holding equal ownership stakes.
Management comments
Speaking on the development, MSC Group President Diego Aponte said the company is committed to strengthening its operations in Nigeria and across Africa.
“We are proud to expand our presence in Nigeria through this important infrastructure project. The Snake Island terminal will enhance service delivery and improve port efficiency for our customers and partners in the region,”
Chief Executive Officer of Nigerdock, Maher Jarmakani, described the agreement as a major milestone for the Nigerian maritime sector.
“We are delighted to partner with MSC in developing a world-class container terminal that will enhance Nigeria’s logistics capabilities and support economic growth,” he said.
Economic impact
Industry analysts say the project could significantly strengthen Nigeria’s maritime economy by expanding cargo handling capacity, reducing congestion at Lagos ports and attracting additional international shipping traffic.
The development is also expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs across maritime operations, logistics, transport services and port-related commercial activities.
Infrastructure expansion
Beyond the port development, plans are also underway for Nigeria’s first underwater tunnel, linking Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island through Snake Island and connecting the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway with the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway corridor through Badagry.
The tunnel project is expected to significantly improve freight movement and road connectivity between Lagos ports and national transport networks.
Strategic milestone
With the entry of MSC into the Snake Island development, industry observers say Nigeria is taking a significant step toward modernizing its maritime infrastructure and positioning itself as a regional hub for global shipping and trade.
For a project that has waited for decades for major international investors, the Snake Island concession represents a turning point in Nigeria’s port development strategy and a strong signal of global confidence in the country’s maritime future.
By Prince Adeyemi Shonibare
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