$2bn Dangote Fertilizer Plant: ‘Change maker for Agriculture, Economy’

By Etuka Sunday

The President/CE, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote has said the $2bn Fertilizer plant in Lekki, Lagos State, soon to come on stream, is a change maker for the agricultural sector in particular, and Nigeria’s economy in general.
He said the plant would trigger massive employment, boost government schemes on farming, enhance industrial products, and tackle the challenges of forex.
Represented by the Group Executive Director, Stakeholder Relations, Dangote Group, Engr. Ahmed Mansur at the Group’s Special Day ceremony held weekend at the Kaduna International Trade Fair, Dangote said his Fertiliser and Petrochemical plants would improve livelihood of Nigerians and reduce poverty in the country to a great extent.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General, Yusuf Tukur Buratai also commended Dangote for his giant strides in the development of the country. Buratai was represented by Lt- General L. Adeosun, who visited the Dangote Pavilion at the fair.
The Emir of Zaria, Dr. Shehu Idris, who was represented by the Makaman Zazzau, Alhaji Umaru Mijinyawa, also visited Dangote Pavilion with other emirate council members.
“The Dangote Fertilizer plant has all the requirements to power agriculture, expand the sector, reduce importation and earn forex for Nigeria”, Mansur said.
According to the GED, Dangote Industries’ focus on full-fledged agriculture through massive investments in rice, sugar, dairy products, tomato e.t.c has gone a long way in promoting food security and reducing rice importation to the barest minimum.
In the area of cement production, Dangote plants located in various countries including Ethiopia, Zambia, Cameroon, Senegal, Ghana, amongst others have impacted most economies in the African continent.
He said the Kaduna Fair was a high-priority event in the calendar of Dangote Group and added that the organisation would continue to serve Nigeria and the economy by ensuring production of goods and services.
Meanwhile, the Dangote Group of Industries, won a Certificate of Merit and a Plaque for the position of 1st Runner-up at the fair which closed on Sunday, 8 March.
President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Hajiya Fareedah Dankaka, who presented the award to Dangote, said Aliko has contributed to economic development through decades of participation and partnership with the Chambers.

She called on other industrialists to emulate the foremost entrepreneur to move Nigeria to greater heights. “If we have people like Dangote, Nigeria will be a better country”, Dankaka stated.