According to Nivo News, Africa’s industrial landscape received a major boost as Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, alongside Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, flagged off the construction of a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The project, undertaken in partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, is designed to produce three million metric tonnes of urea annually, positioning it among the world’s largest fertiliser complexes. Located strategically in Ethiopia’s South-East region, the facility will harness the nation’s natural gas reserves from Hilal and Calub to drive agricultural productivity, create thousands of jobs and strengthen food security across the Horn of Africa.

Prime Minister Abiy described the project as a symbol of cooperation, peace and shared responsibility, stressing that it reflects Ethiopia’s determination to utilise its resources to elevate its global standing. He urged Ethiopians to embrace unity as the country moves towards a stronger economic future.

Dangote, in his remarks, applauded Ethiopia’s leadership for implementing reforms that have opened new opportunities for private investors. He underscored that the project marks a milestone in Africa’s industrialisation journey, saying, “This partnership represents a pivotal moment in our vision to industrialise Africa and achieve food security across the continent.”

The Nigerian billionaire revealed that beyond urea, future expansions will include ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, NPK, and calcium ammonium nitrate, transforming Ethiopia into a regional hub for fertiliser production. He expressed optimism that within five years Ethiopia could emerge as Africa’s leading agricultural powerhouse.

The Gode plant is Dangote Group’s second major venture in Ethiopia after its 2.5 million tonnes per annum cement plant in Mugher, which is being doubled at an additional cost of $400 million. Dangote emphasised the Group’s belief that “only Africans can develop Africa,” citing its successes in Nigeria where the company has helped turn the country into a net exporter of cement, fertiliser and petroleum products.

He described the Ethiopian project as the first time a private African investor is building an industrial complex of such scale on the continent, while also disclosing plans for a polypropylene bagging plant to support the fertiliser industry.

The project has secured financing support from Afreximbank, Africa Finance Corporation, Access Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and other regional financial institutions. Somali Region President Mustafa Omar hailed Dangote as the “anchor investor Ethiopia has been looking for,” while the Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, called the plant a “gigantic project befitting Dangote’s vision.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by senior Ethiopian officials, financiers and industry leaders. With this move, Dangote Group reinforces its position as a central driver of Africa’s industrial transformation, expanding a portfolio that already includes Africa’s largest refinery, the world’s largest fertiliser plant under expansion, and cement operations across 11 countries.