May 25, 2026
The Ethiopian government is aiming to position itself as a regional fertilizer exporter following productive talks with Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote regarding the establishment of a large-scale urea production plant.
Dangote visited Ethiopia over the weekend to strengthen the group’s investment footprint in the country, focusing on plans to establish a large-scale urea fertilizer plant in Gode.
Initially, the Ethiopian government and the Dangote Group had reached a $2.5 billion agreement for the project. Once operational, the plant is projected to produce 3 million metric tonnes of urea annually. According to the government, this initiative is a key step toward achieving self-sufficiency in fertilizer production and positioning Ethiopia as a major regional exporter.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described food security as a “strategic intervention” as Ethiopia and the Dangote Group move ahead with plans for a major fertilizer plant in the country’s Somali region.
Abiy said the project reflects a shared vision between Ethiopia and the Dangote Group.
“Our interest is to have him in many areas because he’s delivering. As a government, we want to support him and realize our common vision. It’s a win-win for both of us,” the prime minister said.
He emphasized that the partnership would bring mutual benefits to both parties and voiced confidence in the lasting value of Dangote’s investment in Ethiopia.
Dangote Group later said its total investment commitment in Ethiopia has now risen to more than $4 billion, citing an expanded infrastructure plan linked to the fertilizer project.
According to the company, the wider investment will include a 110-kilometer pipeline, a 120-megawatt power plant, a polypropylene packaging facility, and a two-million-tonne NPK blending plant.
Dangote said Ethiopia has become one of the group’s most significant investment destinations on the continent.
“So in totality, our own investment so far, declared and agreed on and signed off, is over 4 billion dollars in Ethiopia. Ethiopia actually is the second largest receiver of our own investment,” he said.
The project aims to enhance the supply of fertilizer in Ethiopia and surrounding markets, while also contributing to the government’s broader initiatives on food security and industrialization.
