President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has increased the company’s investment in Ethiopia to over $4bn, reaffirming plans to strengthen Africa’s food security through large-scale fertiliser production.
Dangote disclosed this during a visit to Gode in Ethiopia’s Somali region, where he was hosted by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
According to a statement on Sunday, the Ethiopian leader received Dangote and accompanied him to inspect the site of a proposed fertiliser plant currently under construction.
Speaking on the project, Dangote stressed that Africa’s agricultural challenges are linked to inadequate access to fertiliser, noting that the continent has the capacity to achieve food self-sufficiency.
“Africa holds immense agricultural potential, yet continues to grapple with food insecurity due to limited access to fertiliser. Through our investments, we are committed to reversing this trend by boosting productivity, empowering farmers, and advancing a sustainable path to food self-sufficiency,” he said.
He added that the continent could not only feed itself but also become a major exporter of agricultural produce if investments in fertiliser production are sustained.
“Africa has the capacity to feed itself and even export to the rest of the world. Our fertiliser investments across the continent are designed to unlock that potential and secure a prosperous future for our people,” Dangote stated.
According to him, the group’s investment in Ethiopia has now risen from $2.5bn to over $4bn, covering major infrastructure components such as a 110-kilometre pipeline, a 120MW power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant.
“In total, our declared and signed investments in Ethiopia now exceed $4bn. This makes Ethiopia the second-largest recipient of our investments in Africa, accounting for nearly nine per cent of our continental outlay between now and 2030,” he said.
Dangote described Ethiopia as a key strategic hub for the Group’s long-term expansion plans across Africa, while commending Abiy Ahmed’s development agenda.
“The Prime Minister is driving development beyond expectations, but such progress requires strong private sector collaboration. We are proud to partner with Ethiopia to help build one of Africa’s most dynamic economies in the coming decade,” he added.
In his remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed the investment, describing Dangote as a trusted partner in Ethiopia’s industrialisation drive.
He said the fertiliser project would significantly boost local production, reduce reliance on imports, and support millions of farmers across the country.
“This type of large-scale investment demonstrates the power of strong collaboration between government and the private sector. Expanding such partnerships will accelerate economic growth, attract further investment, and improve the livelihoods of our people,” he noted.
The project, it was learnt, is expected to strengthen Ethiopia’s agricultural value chain, create jobs, and position the country as a growing agro-industrial hub in Africa.
