President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening food security across Africa through large-scale fertiliser investments, declaring that the continent possesses the capacity to feed itself and become a net exporter of agricultural products.
Dangote made the remarks while addressing journalists in Gode, located in Ethiopia’s Somali region, during a visit hosted by Abiy Ahmed. The Ethiopian Prime Minister personally received the industrialist and accompanied him on an inspection tour of the proposed fertiliser plant currently under construction.
Speaking on the importance of fertiliser to agricultural productivity, Dangote said Africa’s persistent food insecurity challenges stem largely from inadequate access to critical farming inputs.
According to him, the Dangote Group is committed to reversing the trend through strategic investments aimed at improving agricultural productivity, empowering farmers, and promoting long-term food self-sufficiency across the continent.
He noted that Africa has the resources and potential to not only feed its growing population but also export agricultural products globally if supported by sustained investments in fertiliser production and agricultural infrastructure.
Dangote also announced that the Group’s total investment in Ethiopia has increased significantly from $2.5 billion to more than $4 billion.
The expanded investment portfolio includes the construction of a 110-kilometre pipeline, a 120-megawatt power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant, among other infrastructure projects.
He described Ethiopia as one of the Group’s most strategic investment destinations in Africa, noting that the country now accounts for nearly nine per cent of Dangote Group’s projected continental investments between now and 2030.
Dangote further praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his leadership and economic transformation agenda, stressing that strong collaboration between governments and the private sector remains essential for sustainable development across Africa.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described Dangote as a reliable development partner and commended the pace of work on the fertiliser project, saying it aligns with Ethiopia’s broader industrialisation and agricultural development goals.
The Prime Minister stated that the project would enhance domestic fertiliser production, reduce dependence on imports, and provide critical support to millions of Ethiopian farmers.
He added that the fertiliser plant would generate employment opportunities, strengthen the country’s industrial value chain, and reinforce Ethiopia’s position as an emerging agro-industrial hub on the continent.
Abiy Ahmed noted that large-scale private sector investments such as the Dangote fertiliser project demonstrate the importance of strong partnerships between governments and investors in driving economic growth and improving livelihoods.
The Dangote fertiliser initiative is widely regarded as a major step toward transforming Africa’s agricultural sector by increasing productivity, reducing import dependence, and promoting inclusive economic growth across the continent.
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