Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote has launched a major expansion of his fertilizer operations, signing technical and project management agreements with global engineering firms including Saipem SpA and Engineers India Ltd. The move aims to boost urea production in Nigeria and establish a new plant in Ethiopia, reinforcing Africa’s agricultural supply chains.
The initiative will triple output at Dangote’s existing fertilizer complex in Lekki, Lagos, from 3 million metric tons annually to approximately 9 million tons. The upgrade involves the construction of four additional production lines, positioning the facility among the world’s largest urea producers.
Simultaneously, Dangote is developing a $2.5 billion fertilizer plant in Gode, Ethiopia, expected to produce 3 million tons annually. The project, launched with a groundbreaking ceremony in the Somali region, is seen by local authorities as a cornerstone for broader industrial growth.
A consortium of international firms has been engaged to execute the plans. Denmark’s Topsoe will supply ammonia technology for six plants; four in Nigeria and two in Ethiopia, while Saipem is responsible for process design for urea melt units across all sites. Germany’s Thyssenkrupp, through its UFT unit, will provide granulation technology for producing export-grade urea. India’s Engineers India Ltd. has been appointed as project management consultant for the four new plants in Lekki, overseeing engineering, procurement, and construction management.
Pushing into fertilizer is a strategic expansion for Dangote Industries Ltd., complementing its refinery and cement businesses. The company says the projects will generate jobs, strengthen value chains for farmers, and enable Nigeria and Ethiopia to play a bigger role in global fertilizer markets at a time when energy and commodity supply chains remain volatile.
Dangote’s latest move underscores his growing influence in African industrialisation and the continent’s ongoing effort to achieve greater food security through locally produced agricultural inputs.
