Nigerian-born billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi, whose Global Infrastructure Partners manages over $100 billion in assets, has signaled potential investments in Nigeria's ports and aviation sectors following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, as the financier spotlighted the country's untapped energy and infrastructure potential.

Ogunlesi, 71 and worth $2.6 billion, disclosed the interest during the Abuja sit-down but held back specifics, though he highlighted energy, aviation, and infrastructure as focus areas.

"We're making investments in Nigeria... Just wait. Watch this space," Ogunlesi

Nigeria's status as a "huge gas province" drew praise, alongside renewables, while he operates ports in Lomé and Cotonou but none locally—prompting Tinubu's nudge for homegrown plays.

The overture aligns with Tinubu's reforms aimed at luring foreign direct investment, as Ogunlesi—Goldman Sachs board member and recent OpenAI appointee—eyes export-led growth. His firm's 2024 $12.5 billion BlackRock sale boosted his profile, with Forbes ranking him among the 50 wealthiest Black Americans at $1.7 billion last year.

GIP's track record includes London's Gatwick and Edinburgh airports, plus LNG plants in Texas and Australia, positioning it to tap Nigeria's aviation and port gaps amid a push for economic diversification.

As Nigeria courts billions in FDI, Ogunlesi's nod could catalyze deals, though execution hinges on regulatory ease and security in a market where infrastructure lags.