President Muhammadu Buhari will on Monday commission the multi-billion dollars Dangote Fertiliser plant, located at Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
The $2.5 billion world-class fertiliser factory has the potential to generate 3 million metric tonnes (mt) of urea per year.
Nigeria’s average fertiliser application of 20kg/ha is the lowest in Africa, lagging behind other African countries such as South Africa and Egypt.
The Dangote fertiliser plant, which is located in the rapidly expanding Economic Free Trade Zone, is widely regarded as the largest of its kind in West Africa.
Already, Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city, is buzzing with anticipation of the plant’s start-up, which is intended to assist fulfil the country’s fertiliser demands while also boosting exports.
Among other things, the President is slated to commission developments at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The President will also see the Lekki Deep Seaport and the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant, both of which are located within the free trade zone, during his visit to Lagos.
The facility is estimated to bring in well over $400 million in foreign cash to the Nigerian economy once it is completed, thanks to product exports to other African countries.
Other existing operations, such as Indorama Chemicals facilities in Rivers State, which generate urea, ammonia, and other industrial raw materials, are likely to benefit from the Dangote factory.
Nigeria also has a fertiliser manufacturing agreement with Morocco, as the two countries agreed to build a $1.3 billion Basic Chemicals Plant in Nigeria, which will generate ammonia, phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, and other nitrogen-based products.
Using Nigeria’s gas reserves, the plant will also create Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilisers.
