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The facility will produce annually 10,4 million The Dangote facility has started operations
tons (Mt) of gasoline, 4,6 Mt of diesel, 4Mt of jet despite multiple delays caused by internal and
fuel, 0,69 Mt of polypropylene, 0,24 Mt of external factors. President Muhammadu Buhari
propane, 32,000 tons of sulfur, and 0,5 Mt of inaugurated the Dangote Fertilizer Plant in Ibeju-
carbon black feed. Lekki Lagos, on March 22, 2022. It is estimated to
There are currently approximately 40,000 workers be the world’s second-largest fertilizer plant,
on the site. After completion, the number of producing 3 million metric tons (mt) of urea per
employees is expected to rise to nearly 50,000- year. President Buhari acknowledges the
70,000. Staff members include engineers and economic ramifications of such a major
experts from around the world and local workers. achievement: huge job opportunities, wealth, and
To build skills and capacity in the local an agricultural boom. Currently, the facility
population, every foreign hire must be matched exports to the USA, India, and Brazil, which can
with four Nigerians. About 11,000 foreign workers increase foreign exchange in the country. Known
and up to 29,000 employees undergoing training as Africa’s largest Granulated Urea Fertilizer
constitute the current staff. Ali Dangote is not the complex plant with a capacity to load and
sole owner of the $19 billion project, although the distribute 700 trucks per hour, will contribute
refinery bears his name. NNPC, the state-owned significantly to Nigeria’s economy. Over $400
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is million in foreign exchange derived from exports
taking a 20% stake. Mr. Dangote holds to other African countries. According to
approximately $9 billion of equity. The Standard President Buhari, Nigeria will become self-
Chartered Bank is leading a group of local and sufficient in fertilizer production. He stated “the
foreign banks to provide $3,3 billion for the fertilizer we are commissioning today, has the
project.US Trade and Development has funded capacity to provide multiplier effects on our
the refinery human resource development with a economy, including job creation, which is a key
3 billion training grant. In addition to providing goal of my administration. The nation also
cost savings, the refinery will double Nigeria’s stands to gain extensively in earnings of foreign
refining capacity and meet the growing demand exchange from the excess production of the
for crude oil. In Mr. Dangote’s view, the refinery plant. I am informed that we have already started
will lead to a significant transformation of exporting to USA, Brazil, and India. The coming
Nigeria and provide many benefits: currency on stream of the plant is creating huge
stability, the ability to generate foreign exchange opportunities in the areas of employment, trade,
through exports, an improved trade balance, and warehousing, transport, and logistics. This will
an impact on agriculture and energy industries. drastically create wealth, reduce poverty, and
At a recent foreign investors’ meeting in New secure the future of our nation.” the president
York, Nigeria’s Central bank Governor, Mr. noted that Dangote Group, along with other
Godwin Emefiele noted that Nigeria’s import of subsidiaries, is Nigeria’s second-largest
petroleum products accounts for 30% of its employer, after the Federal Government.
foreign exchange and can be reversed through Chairman and CEO, Aliko Dangote, was praised
the successful operation of the Dangote refinery. for his leadership and contribution through his
Several challenges have delayed the completion investment activities throughout Africa which
of the much-anticipated refinery, including the confirmed Nigeria’s leadership status in the
recent Covid-19 pandemic that caused global continent. Moreover, President Buhari, expressed
economic turmoil, exposed many weaknesses in gratitude for the initiative taken by Alhaji Aliko
supply chains, and delayed transportation of Dangote, a Nigerian, to help solve this perennial
some equipment to the plant. petrochemical import issue.

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