Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is set to significantly expand Nigeria’s industrial capacity with a bold plan to triple fertilizer production at his Lagos operations from 3 million to 9 million metric tons annually. The expansion, one of the largest in the sector, also forms part of a broader strategy that includes a multi-billion-dollar fertilizer plant in Ethiopia’s Gode region, aimed at boosting food production across Africa and reducing reliance on imports.
The Dangote Fertilizer plant in Lagos will see the addition of four new production trains to its existing two, enabling a substantial increase in urea output to meet growing demand from local farmers, distributors, and international buyers. Concurrently, the Ethiopian facility is expected to add another 3 million metric tons of urea per year once completed, strengthening regional supply and shielding African markets from global price volatility.
To deliver the ambitious expansion, Dangote Group has signed technical agreements with four leading engineering companies. Topsoe will provide ammonia technology and design packages for six ammonia plants across Nigeria and Ethiopia. Saipem will handle licensing and design for the urea melt units, Thyssenkrupp’s UFT division will supply granulation systems, and EIL will oversee engineering and project management for the new trains in Lekki.
Dangote’s expansion plan is not limited to fertilizers. The billionaire is also advancing his Lagos refinery, recently striking a deal with India’s Honeywell Group to increase output to 1.4 million barrels per day. The project includes a 750,000-barrel-per-day greenfield site alongside the existing 650,000-barrel facility, scheduled for completion by 2028, and is designed to reduce Africa’s dependence on imported fuel.
Through these initiatives, Dangote is reinforcing his vision of strengthening industrial capacity, supporting agricultural value chains, generating jobs, and boosting export revenues, while ensuring more reliable access to essential inputs for farmers across the continent.
