Dangote charts new industrial path for Nigeria, targets doubling refinery output by 2028

…Targets 1.4m bpd refinery output by 2028

 …Bets big on Africa’s self-reliance

Nigeria’s largest industrial conglomerate, Dangote Group, has reaffirmed its commitment to driving the country’s full-scale industrialisation, unveiling bold expansion plans that include doubling the capacity of its petroleum refinery from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2028.

The announcement came on Wednesday at the 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair, where Mrs. Fatima Aliko-Dangote, Group Executive Director for Commercial Operations, restated the company’s mission to transform Nigeria into a self-sufficient industrial powerhouse. She was represented at the event by Mrs. Funmi Sanni, Group Head of Sales and Marketing at Dangote Cement Plc.

Industrialisation as the Future of Nigeria

Aliko-Dangote described industrialisation as “the most viable path to value addition, economic diversification, and large-scale job creation for the nation’s youth,” stressing that the group’s investments across sectors were strategically designed to reduce import dependence and strengthen regional self-reliance.

“The theme of this year’s trade fair — ‘Connecting Businesses, Creating Value’ — captures exactly what we do,” she said. “We connect industries, empower communities, and create value chains that keep wealth within Africa.”

She reiterated the company’s long-standing belief that “only Africans can truly develop Africa,” noting that Dangote Group’s growing investments across the continent underscores that philosophy.

Expansion Drive Across Africa

Among the group’s latest milestones is the ground-breaking of a $2.5 billion Urea Fertiliser Complex in Gode, Ethiopia, developed in partnership with the Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH) — the strategic investment arm of the Ethiopian government. The plant, with a three-million-metric-tonne capacity, is expected to generate thousands of jobs and boost agricultural productivity upon completion.

In Ethiopia, Dangote has also begun a $400 million expansion of its cement plant to add a second production line. Across West Africa, the group’s 3Mta Côte d’Ivoire grinding plant has started operations, increasing Dangote Cement’s total installed capacity to 55 million tonnes per annum (Mta).

“This milestone reinforces our commitment to regional self-reliance and strengthens our position as Africa’s leading cement producer,” she said.

In Nigeria, the group is constructing a new 6Mta integrated cement plant in Itori, Ogun State, designed primarily for export to neighbouring West African markets.

Refinery, Fertiliser, and Sugar — Powering Nigeria’s Next Phase

Aliko-Dangote’s address placed special emphasis on Nigeria’s energy and agricultural transformation.

At the heart of this transformation is the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which began operations earlier this year and is already being expanded to more than double its capacity by 2028. The project is expected to make Nigeria not just self-sufficient in refined petroleum products but also a net exporter.

The group’s other subsidiaries — Dangote Fertiliser, Dangote Polypropylene, Dangote Sugar Refinery, and NASCON Allied Industries (Dangote Salt) — are each leading players in their respective sectors, driving import substitution and domestic value addition.

She highlighted Dangote Sugar Refinery’s $700 million backward integration plan, which aims to eliminate Nigeria’s dependence on imported raw sugar. The investment covers land acquisition, machinery, infrastructure, manpower development, and community projects.

New Products, New Markets

In a related announcement, Mr. Ravindra Singhvi, Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, unveiled two new sugar pack sizes — 25 kg and 100 g — to complement the existing 50 kg bags.

Singhvi said the new 25 kg pack would make distribution and retailing more efficient for both traders and corporate customers. “This move responds to changing market dynamics and helps ensure consumers have access to fresh, conveniently sized products,” he explained.

He also reaffirmed the company’s goal of “producing sugar from Nigeria, by Nigerians, and for Nigerians,” calling it a crucial step toward agricultural independence and industrial resilience.

LCCI Commends Dangote’s Industrial Leadership

Speaking at the event, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), hailed the Dangote Group as a model of visionary industrial leadership in Africa.

“To navigate the complexities of today’s global economy, Nigeria needs industrialists who invest where others hesitate,” Idahosa said. “The Dangote Refinery stands as proof of that vision — a landmark project that meets local demand and strengthens the country’s economic outlook.”

He added that the LCCI remained committed to fostering partnerships, driving policy advocacy, and creating platforms that enable businesses like Dangote’s to thrive.

A Broader Vision for Africa

Aliko-Dangote closed her remarks by linking the group’s ambitions to a broader continental goal. “Our investments are not just about profits,” she said. “They are about creating ecosystems — industries that feed into one another, that employ people, that keep Africa producing and exporting finished goods, not just raw materials.”

With its refinery expansion, new cement plants, and agricultural projects, the Dangote Group appears poised to deepen its role as the engine of Nigeria’s and Africa’s industrial transformation — turning vision into infrastructure, and infrastructure into opportunity.