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Dangote Group has partnered with four global engineering giants to massively expand fertiliser production in Nigeria and build a new large-scale complex in Ethiopia. The projects will triple Nigeria’s urea capacity, add three million tonnes of new output in Ethiopia, and strengthen Africa’s position in global agricultural value chains. Together, these developments signal a major step toward regional food security, industrialisation, and African-led economic transformation.
The Dangote Group has announced new technical partnerships with four leading global engineering, procurement, and construction firms to support the expansion of its fertiliser operations in Nigeria and drive large-scale development in Ethiopia. This new phase of collaboration reinforces the Group’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s role in global agricultural value chains while advancing regional food security and industrialisation. In a statement released this week, the company named its technical partners: Italy’s Saipem, Denmark’s Topsoe, Germany’s Thyssenkrupp UFT division, and India’s state-owned Engineers India Limited. Each brings specialised expertise in fertiliser engineering, technology design, and project management critical to the scale of the initiative.
The expansion of the Dangote Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Nigeria will raise urea output from three million metric tonnes annually to an anticipated nine million tonnes. The existing facility operates two production trains, with four additional trains planned—tripling the nation’s capacity and marking a major turning point for sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural industrial infrastructure. The goal is to boost fertiliser availability for both regional consumption and global export.
Simultaneously, Dangote has begun constructing a new fertiliser complex in Gode, Ethiopia. With an investment of USD 2.5 billion, the complex is designed to produce three million metric tonnes of urea per year. Ethiopia’s strategic agricultural position underscores the project’s importance within East Africa’s development agenda.
Topsoe will provide technology licensing and full process design for six ammonia plants—four in Nigeria and two in Ethiopia—leveraging its global reputation in low-carbon, energy-efficient ammonia technologies.
Saipem will deliver process design and licensing for the urea melt units across all six plants, drawing on more than 60 years of fertiliser project experience.
Thyssenkrupp’s UFT division will supply granulation technology and design packages for producing premium urea granules, which are preferred for their stability and global market demand.
Engineers India Limited will serve as project management and EPCM consultant for the four Lekki plants, ensuring timely execution and compliance with international quality standards.
Despite the global expertise involved, the initiative remains firmly rooted in African priorities. Dangote emphasised that the project aligns with a long-term vision of regional self-sufficiency, job creation, and food sovereignty. Expanded fertiliser access is expected to support smallholder farmers, enhance soil health, and strengthen national agricultural strategies focused on increasing yields and economic growth.
This cross-continental industrial development marks a departure from traditional dependency models, showcasing a more balanced form of global collaboration led by African private sector actors who prioritise local needs while applying global best practices.
The economic implications are wide-ranging. By boosting its urea and ammonia production capacity, Africa may gain a stronger foothold in global fertiliser markets—potentially shifting trade dynamics and reducing dependence on imported fertiliser products that are often affected by global price volatility. With simultaneous developments in Nigeria and Ethiopia, the Dangote Group’s fertiliser strategy reflects a broader continental ambition toward agricultural and industrial transformation. Its focus on sustainable, technology-driven infrastructure signals a long-term approach centred on resilience, innovation, and self-defined growth.
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The projects are also expected to generate significant direct and indirect employment, reinforcing the growing influence of African industrial leaders in shaping the continent’s economic future and regional integration. As Africa navigates the challenges of climate change, population growth, and food insecurity, these multi-country industrial initiatives offer a pathway not only to economic advancement but also to structural transformation driven by African agency. They signal a shift from dependency to capability—and from vulnerability to a renewed, forward-looking vision.