Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, is doubling down on fertiliser production as part of a bold plan to end Africa’s reliance on fertiliser imports within the next 40 months. The continent’s richest man revealed this on Monday on LinkedIn.
Dangote described the effort as a turning point for food security, economic independence, and agricultural transformation across the continent.
“My dear African brothers and sisters, I am honored to share with you news that marks a decisive turning point for our continent: in the next 40 months, Africa will no longer need to import fertilisers,” he said.
Dangote added that thanks to the expansion of our fertiliser plant in Lagos—already among the largest in the world—they will more than double our production capacity. “This approach is not simply industrial: it is strategic, economic, and profoundly pan-African.”
The industrialist said the objective is to strengthen farmers and the agricultural value chains as well as create jobs and retain wealth on our soil.
At the heart of the plan is the expansion of the $2.5 billion Dangote fertiliser plant, which was commissioned in February 2022 in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos. Already one of the largest fertiliser plants in the world, the facility currently produces three million metric tonnes of urea annually. The ongoing expansion is expected to more than double that capacity.
The plant’s commissioning came at a critical time, as the Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global supply chains and triggered a spike in food and fertiliser prices, exposing Africa’s vulnerability to external shocks.
According to Dangote, increasing fertiliser production is not just an industrial goal but a strategic one. “We spend billions of dollars each year on fertiliser imports. This money must now work for Africans, on the continent,” he said. “Our goal is to empower farmers, strengthen agricultural value chains, create jobs, and retain wealth within Africa.”
In addition to Nigeria, Dangote is pushing deeper into East Africa. The billionaire confirmed a new $3 billion fertiliser project in Ethiopia, a country struggling with fertiliser shortages, currency constraints, and rising food insecurity. The move is expected to boost Ethiopia’s domestic supply while enhancing regional self-sufficiency.
The fertiliser drive also aligns with a broader expansion of Dangote’s industrial empire. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Dangote revealed plans to develop what he called “Nigeria’s biggest and deepest seaport” in Olokola, Ogun state. The proposed port—about 100 kilometres from his Lekki refinery and fertiliser complex—will serve as a critical logistics hub for exports and imports.
He disclosed that paperwork for the Olokola port project was submitted in late June. Once operational, the port is expected to ease the movement of goods such as fertilisers, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas, while streamlining the import of industrial equipment and raw materials.
With these developments, Dangote is positioning his conglomerate not only as a manufacturing powerhouse but also as a key player in Africa’s quest for food security, trade integration, and economic self-reliance.
“We are not just exporting products, we are exporting confidence in Africa’s future,” he noted.
