Swiss shipping giant MSC Group has secured a 45-year concession to develop a new container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos as part of a broader push to expand infrastructure in West Africa.

The deal was signed with Nigerian maritime and logistics company Nigerdock, while the engineering, procurement and construction contract has been awarded to ITB Nigeria and DEME Group.

The project forms part of more than $1bn of investment by MSC in Nigeria’s ports and logistics sector.

Plans for the new terminal include a 910-m quay capable of handling ship-to-shore cranes and mobile harbour cranes serving both deepsea vessels and barge traffic. The initial dredging depth is set at 16.5 m, matching the current depth of the navigation channel.

The terminal will also feature a 30-hectare yard equipped for hybrid rubber-tyred gantry cranes, with additional space reserved for future expansion.

Designs allow for further dredging to 18 m if required, enabling the port to handle larger container ships as vessel sizes continue to grow, MSC noted.

According to MSC, the development reflects the group’s confidence in Nigeria’s role as a growing shipping hub in West Africa and is expected to improve cargo handling capacity while creating jobs and supporting the country’s trade infrastructure.

“The new terminal will open up opportunities, enhance efficiency, and elevate Snake Island Port as a major global shipping center. Together with our Group’s other long-term investments in Nigeria, it will generate many local jobs and significantly increase economic revenue and resilience,” said Diego Aponte, president of MSC Group.