L-R, President/CE, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote; Chairman of Board of Directors, Africa Finance Corporation, ( AFC), Samaila Zubairu; During the Signing Ceremony of Agreement Between AFC and Dangote Industries Limited, in Lagos on Friday 12, June 2026.
Ayomide Bello
Nigeria’s fertiliser industry set for major boost as Dangote Group scales production capacity and strengthens Africa’s food security agenda
The Dangote Group is targeting more than $4 billion in annual foreign exchange earnings from fertiliser exports within the next three years as it expands production capacity across Nigeria and Ethiopia.
The projection follows a $600 million financing agreement between the group and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) to support the next phase of Dangote’s fertiliser expansion programme.
The facility, secured by GreenView Fertilizer Corporation (Greenview), the holding company for Dangote Fertiliser, will fund the expansion of urea production capacity in Nigeria and the development of a new fertiliser plant in Ethiopia.
The investment is part of Dangote Group’s wider $7 billion fertiliser expansion strategy, designed to increase Africa’s fertiliser supply, reduce import dependence and strengthen agricultural productivity across the continent.
The expansion is expected to raise Nigeria’s fertiliser production capacity from 3 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 9 MTPA, while supporting the construction of a new 3 MTPA urea facility in Ethiopia.
The Dangote Fertiliser Plant at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, currently one of the world’s largest granulated urea fertiliser facilities, is expected to play a central role in the expansion.
The company said the increased output would improve fertiliser availability, stabilise supply chains and support farmers across African markets.
Beyond agriculture, the investment is expected to generate foreign exchange inflows, strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and position the country as a major player in the global fertiliser market.
Speaking on the development, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said the project would become a significant source of foreign exchange for Nigeria.
“This investment positions us to deliver over $4 billion annually in fertiliser exports within the next three years,” Dangote said.
He added that the project reflects the group’s commitment to working with strategic African partners to accelerate industrial growth and economic transformation.
AFC President and Chief Executive Officer, Samaila Zubairu, said the financing demonstrates confidence in Dangote’s role as a leading African industrial operator.
He described the transaction as part of AFC’s capital recycling strategy, noting that proceeds from earlier investments in Dangote Industries were being reinvested into the company’s next phase of growth.
According to AFC, supporting the fertiliser expansion aligns with its broader objective of financing projects that improve food security, reduce import reliance and create long-term economic value.
The expansion comes as African economies seek to reduce dependence on imported agricultural inputs and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.
Fertiliser shortages and high input costs have remained major challenges affecting agricultural output across several African countries.
Industry analysts say increased local production could help improve food security, enhance crop yields and support regional agricultural value chains.
With the planned expansion, Dangote Fertiliser is expected to deepen its position as a major global supplier while contributing to Nigeria’s industrialisation and export diversification goals.