Nigeria is on course to become a dominant player in the global fertiliser and petrochemical market, as Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, revealed plans to make the country the world’s largest exporter of urea fertiliser by 2026.
He disclosed this during a media briefing at the Dangote Refinery complex in Lagos, held to mark the one-year anniversary of the refinery’s gasoline rollout. Dangote expressed confidence that the group’s expanding operations would place Nigeria at the heart of the global urea market.
“We’re actually targeting to be the largest exporter of urea fertiliser in the world. That, for Nigeria, is a big milestone worth celebrating,” he said.
Dangote explained that increased fertiliser exports would not only boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings but also play a vital role in addressing Africa’s food security challenges, as demand for fertiliser across the continent continues to exceed local supply.
Beyond fertiliser, he outlined the group’s progress in petrochemicals, particularly in the production of polypropylene, an essential raw material used in packaging, textiles, and the automotive industry. “Nigeria will be the largest exporter of polypropylene in Africa. We’ll also be the largest supplier, and we remain focused regardless of the distractions,” he noted.
Industry observers believe these strides could reposition Nigeria as a key hub for petrochemical exports, reducing the continent’s dependence on imports from Asia and Europe.
The anniversary event also saw the unveiling of 1,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks, part of a wider plan to deploy 4,000 such trucks before the year runs out. Valued at more than N2 trillion, with each unit costing between N170m and N190m, the trucks are expected to ease petroleum product distribution, cut transportation costs, and improve nationwide fuel accessibility.
Dangote highlighted the initiative’s impact on job creation, stressing that each truck would require about six people for operations and support, ranging from drivers to mechanics and logistics staff. “These are not robotic trucks. They will be driven by people, and by the time you account for drivers, workshop managers, mechanics, and logistics teams, every truck will generate jobs. Altogether, we’re looking at no fewer than 24,000 jobs,” he explained.
He further disclosed that truck drivers under the scheme would earn salaries three to four times higher than the national minimum wage, underscoring the company’s commitment to improving workers’ welfare.
Looking ahead, Dangote revealed that the group is preparing to roll out electric vehicles for product distribution beginning in January 2026, a move that aligns with the global shift towards clean energy and sustainability.
