Dangote raises investment in Ethiopia to $4bn

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans to increase the conglomerate’s investment in Ethiopia from $2.5 billion to more than $4 billion, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to industrialisation and food security across Africa. Dangote disclosed this while addressing journalists in Gode, located in Ethiopia’s Somali region, during a high-level visit hosted […]

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has announced plans to increase the conglomerate’s investment in Ethiopia from $2.5 billion to more than $4 billion, reinforcing the company’s long-term commitment to industrialisation and food security across Africa.

Dangote disclosed this while addressing journalists in Gode, located in Ethiopia’s Somali region, during a high-level visit hosted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Prime Minister personally received the Nigerian industrialist and accompanied him on an inspection tour of the proposed fertiliser plant currently under construction.

Speaking during the visit according to a statement issued yesterday, Dangote said the expanded investment portfolio would include major infrastructure projects such as a 110-kilometre gas pipeline, a 120MW power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant, among other components.

According to him, the new projects are aimed at strengthening fertiliser production capacity and boosting agricultural productivity in Ethiopia and across the African continent.

“Africa holds immense agricultural potential, yet continues to grapple with food insecurity due to limited access to fertiliser,” Dangote said. “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 stressed that Africa possesses the capacity not only to feed itself but also to become a major exporter of agricultural products if adequate investments are made in fertiliser production and agricultural infrastructure.

“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,” he added.

Dangote described Ethiopia as one of the Group’s most strategic investment destinations on the continent, noting that the country now ranks as the second-largest recipient of Dangote Group investments in Africa.

“In total, our declared and signed investments in Ethiopia now exceed $4 billion. This makes Ethiopia the second-largest recipient of our investments in Africa, accounting for nearly nine per cent of our continental investment outlay between now and 2030,” he stated.

He also praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for driving economic reforms and infrastructure development in Ethiopia, saying the country’s progress requires stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector.

“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,” Dangote said.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described Dangote as a trusted development partner and commended the pace of work on the fertiliser project, which he said aligns with Ethiopia’s broader industrialisation agenda.

According to the Ethiopian leader, the project would help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fertiliser while supporting millions of farmers with improved access to agricultural inputs.

He added that the investment would create thousands of jobs, deepen industrial linkages, and strengthen Ethiopia’s position as a growing agro-industrial hub in Africa.

“This type of large-scale investment demonstrates the power of strong collaboration between government and the private sector,” Abiy Ahmed said. “Expanding such partnerships will accelerate economic growth, attract further investment, and improve the livelihoods of our people.”