By DAYO ADESULU
President of the Aliko Dangote has declared that Africa can overcome hunger and become a global food exporter if governments and investors prioritise fertiliser production and agricultural infrastructure.
Dangote made the declaration during a visit to Gode in Ethiopia’s Somali region, where he inspected the site of a new fertiliser plant under construction alongside Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The billionaire industrialist said the Dangote Group is intensifying efforts to tackle food insecurity on the continent through strategic fertiliser investments aimed at boosting crop yields and supporting farmers.
According to him, many African countries continue to struggle with hunger despite possessing vast arable land and favourable farming conditions because farmers lack adequate access to fertiliser and other critical agricultural inputs.
“Africa holds immense agricultural potential, yet continues to grapple with food insecurity due to limited access to fertiliser,” Dangote said during the visit.
He stressed that the company’s long-term vision is to help Africa attain food self-sufficiency while reducing reliance on food imports from other continents.
Dangote Raises Ethiopia Investment From $2.5bn To $4bn
In a major announcement, Dangote revealed that his company has increased its total investment commitment in Ethiopia from $2.5 billion to more than $4 billion.
The expanded investment package includes the construction of a 110-kilometre gas pipeline, a 120-megawatt power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant.
Dangote described Ethiopia as one of the most strategic destinations for the Group’s investments in Africa, adding that the country now ranks as the second-largest recipient of Dangote investments on the continent.
“In total, our declared and signed investments in Ethiopia now exceed $4 billion,” he stated.
He added that the investment represents nearly nine per cent of the company’s planned African investment portfolio between now and 2030.
Abiy Ahmed Hails Dangote Partnership
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed praised Dangote for deepening private sector participation in Ethiopia’s economic development, describing the fertiliser project as critical to the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The Ethiopian leader said the fertiliser plant would reduce dependence on imported fertiliser, support local farmers, and strengthen the nation’s agro-industrial sector.
According to him, the project is also expected to create thousands of jobs and stimulate industrial growth across multiple sectors.
“This type of large-scale investment demonstrates the power of strong collaboration between government and the private sector,” Abiy Ahmed said.
He added that expanding partnerships with investors like Dangote would accelerate economic growth and improve living standards for millions of Ethiopians.
Africa’s Push For Agricultural Independence
The Dangote fertiliser expansion comes at a time when many African nations are seeking ways to strengthen local food production amid rising global food prices and supply chain disruptions.
Analysts believe large-scale fertiliser production could play a major role in improving agricultural productivity across the continent and reducing dependence on imported food supplies.
With the new Ethiopia project, Dangote Group is positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s agricultural and industrial transformation drive.
Observers say the investment could reshape fertiliser access in East Africa while reinforcing the continent’s ambition to become self-sufficient in food production.
Caption: L-R: President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, being welcome by the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed to Gode, in Ethiopia’s Somali region, during an inspection of the fertiliser plant under construction in Gode, Ethiopia, over the weekend.
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