Nigeria’s powerhouse Dangote Group has kicked off it’s boldest African industrial investment yet — a $2.5 billion urea fertiliser production complex in Gode, Ethiopia. The project is a joint venture with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the investment arm of the Ethiopian government, and it aims to produce three million metric tons per annum which is a scale that could help Ethiopia become the continent’s leading agricultural nation.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President & Group CEO, said this is the first time a private investor from Africa is partnering with an African government to build such a large industrial complex. He called the project a “new dawn”, emphasising its potential both for industrialisation and food security across Africa.
The site in Gode is especially strategic, Dangote noted, because Ethiopia has rich natural gas reserves (Hilal and Calub) that will help power the plant. He said the complex will be a cornerstone in boosting agricultural productivity not only in Ethiopia but in neighbouring countries too. Also, within five years, Ethiopia aims to reach a fertiliser application target of 80 kg per hectare as part of its drive to grow cultivated land.
Dangote didn’t stop at urea. He revealed plans for future investments in more fertiliser types: ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate, which would further support Ethiopia’s goal of being a regional fertiliser hub.
This isn’t Dangote’s first time in Ethiopia. The group has been operating there through Dangote Cement, with a 2.5 million tonnes‑per‑annum plant in Mugher, and there are plans for a $400 million expansion (a second production line) to double that cement plant’s output.
In his remarks, Dangote praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his government for creating an enabling environment, liberalising sectors, and opening Ethiopia up to private investment. These reforms made Ethiopia one of the most attractive destinations for industrial investment in Africa.
Also speaking was Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District. He used the moment to weigh in on Nigeria’s own industrial sector. He defended Dangote Refinery in its dispute with PENGASSAN (Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria), arguing that rather than relying on foreign imports, the priority should be creating jobs locally.
