Victor Ezeja
Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), has revealed plans to expand Nigeria’s export operations by increasing his company’s export of fertiliser, cement and polypropylene among other products.
He said the company plans to substantially increase the export of fertiliser from Nigeria, which is estimated to generate up to $7 million per day.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis export strategy will, according to Dangote, become a profitable venture never previously witnessed in the country.
“In the next two years, we will be exporting about 16,000 tons of fertiliser. That’s about $6.5 million to $7 million revenue that will be coming into the country on a daily basis,” Dangote stated during a visit to the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Lagos.
Speaking with the NPA director Abubakar Dantsoho on Monday, the Africa’s richest man revealed that the company will also expand exports of coal and various refinery products.
“We will soon be massively expanding our export operations. For some of you who have been to our cement factory in Itori, we’re already exporting cement out of Nigeria. We have a whole factory of six million tons for cement export,” he said.
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Considered as the largest granulated urea fertiliser plant in Africa, Dangote fertilizer has an annual production capacity of 3 million metric tonnes and helps significantly in reducing reliance on imported fertilisers.
Dangote stated that the $20 billion refinery at the Lekki Free Trade zone will also increase export operations, recording about 240 crude oil ships annually, with each carrying a million barrels.
“Our fertiliser export will be almost eight cargoes,” he added.
He, however, underscored the need for government support, especially from agencies like NPA for the company to achieve the ambitious plans.
“But our operations will sink if NPA doesn’t give us the services we need,” he stated.
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Responding, the NPA director said the agency will support Dangote Group in achieving the export targets, adding that it is essential to strengthen Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.
He added that the authority has upgraded port activities with over 57 vessels treated and operated every month since October 1, 2024.
The operations of Nigerian ports will definitely double in the next one or two years,” Dantsoho stated.
He stated that new deep-seaport projects in Ibom, Bakassi, Olokola, Ondo, and Badagry have received clearances, and that improvements at Tin-Can and Apapa ports should start by the third quarter of this year.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
