The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced that Nigeria is on course to become a leading force in fertiliser and petrochemical exports, with his company aiming to become the world’s largest exporter of urea fertiliser by 2026.
Speaking in Lagos on Monday during the one-year anniversary of the Dangote Refinery’s gasoline rollout, Dangote said the company is scaling up operations to position Nigeria as a central player in the global urea market.
“We’re actually targeting to be the largest exporter of urea fertiliser in the world. And that’s a big celebration for Nigeria,” he told journalists.
According to him, the move will not only boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings but also support food security across Africa, where fertilizer demand far exceeds local production.
Beyond fertilizer, Dangote highlighted ongoing progress in petrochemicals, particularly in polypropylene, a raw material essential for packaging, textiles, and automotive industries.
He stressed that Nigeria is poised to become Africa’s largest exporter and supplier of the product.
Industry observers say the expansion could transform Nigeria into a petrochemical hub, reducing the continent’s dependence on imports from Asia and Europe.
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The refinery’s anniversary also marked the launch of 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks, part of a broader plan to deploy 4,000 by year-end.
Dangote explained that the ₦2 trillion project—where each truck costs between ₦170m and ₦190m—is designed to ease distribution challenges, cut logistics costs, and expand fuel access nationwide.
The initiative is expected to create at least 24,000 direct and indirect jobs, with truck drivers earning salaries three to four times the national minimum wage.
Looking ahead, Dangote revealed that the company plans to roll out electric vehicles (EVs) for product transport starting January 2026, underscoring its commitment to sustainability and aligning with global energy transition trends.
Image Credit: Punch newspapper
