Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Limited, has announced that in the next two years, the company will begin exporting nearly 16,000 tonnes of fertilizer daily, expected to generate around $7 million in daily revenue for the federal government.
He disclosed this on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority headquarters in Marina, Lagos. Dangote added that the fertilizer exports would make the company a major contributor to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
The richest man in Africa also stated that the company would begin exporting coal in a few weeks.
“In the coming weeks, we will commence coal exports from Nigeria. Our refinery operations will export no less than 25 million tonnes of various products, alongside approximately 600,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes of polypropylene.
When it comes to exports, we are poised to become a major force,” he stated.
He also emphasized the importance of collaborating with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to advance the Marine and Blue Economy sector, to significantly expand Nigeria’s export capacity. As the NPA’s largest client, he emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and ongoing collaboration between NPA and DIL.
“I believe this kind of collaboration is crucial for the growth of the industry. We covered a wide range of topics, including ways to deepen the Marine and Blue Economy sector, and we have agreed to work together for the benefit of Nigeria,” he said.
Dangote further explained that their operations at Lekki alone handle nearly 240 crude oil ships annually, with each ship carrying one million barrels of crude.
In addition, “our product shipments will total over 600 ships per year. We also have our fertilizer operations, which will involve loading almost eight ships annually. This scale of operation is unprecedented in the country,” he added.
Highlighting the critical role of collaboration with the NPA, Dangote stated that the company’s operations would be at risk without adequate support from the authority.
“The NPA will need substantial assistance from the federal government, as they cannot handle these responsibilities on their own; they require more equipment and additional tugboats. We will also engage with the relevant authorities to ensure the NPA receives the necessary support from the federal government,” he explained.
