Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC Group) has secured a 45-year concession agreement with Nigerdock to develop a major container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos. The company has also signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract with ITB Nigeria Ltd. and DEME Group to build the facility.
Announced on 11 March 2026 in Geneva, the project forms part of MSC Group’s broader investment in Nigeria’s logistics and infrastructure sector, which now exceeds USD 1 billion.
The planned terminal will feature a 910-metre quay equipped to handle both Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC), allowing it to serve deep-sea container vessels as well as barges. Initial dredging will reach a depth of –16.5 metres chart datum, matching the existing navigation channel, while the container yard will cover 30 hectares with room for future expansion. The terminal will also be designed for hybrid Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG) cranes.
The infrastructure has been designed with scalability in mind. The final phase could see dredging extended to –18 metres chart datum, enabling the terminal to accommodate larger container vessels as Nigeria strengthens its position as a regional shipping hub.
Diego Aponte, President of MSC Group, said the agreement marks a key milestone in the development of the Snake Island Container Terminal and reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria and the wider African market.
Once completed, the new terminal is expected to improve port efficiency, expand cargo handling capacity and support regional trade while generating employment opportunities and boosting economic activity in the country.
