UN Backs Dangote Fertiliser to Combat Africa's Food Crisis

News in Brief

-UN Secretary Amina Mohammed praised Dangote Industries' fertiliser plant as essential for curbing Africa's food crisis and pledged support for global partnerships to expand its reach.

-Dangote announced boosted urea and petrol exports to African markets, with the refinery shipping 17 cargoes despite crude shortfalls.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has spotlighted Dangote Industries Limited, especially its fertiliser division, as a vital force in addressing Africa's deepening food security crisis.

During her recent visit to the company's sprawling industrial complex in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Mohammed urged global partners to rally behind such private-sector innovations to amplify their reach across the continent.

She emphasised the UN's role in showcasing scalable solutions like Dangote's integrated model, which combines fertiliser production with energy resources to bolster agricultural productivity.

"I think the UN’s job here is to amplify and to put visibility on the possibilities of mitigating a food security crisis, and this is one of them. I hope that when we go back, we can continue to engage partners and countries that should collaborate with Dangote Industries," she stated during the visit on April 6, 2026.

Her comments resonate amid Africa's worsening food shortages, exacerbated by climate shocks, global economic strains, and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, mirrors these challenges, with millions facing hunger as per recent Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates. For farmers and agribusiness stakeholders, Dangote's fertiliser plant, Africa's largest granulated urea complex, offers a homegrown lifeline, reducing reliance on costly imports and stabilising yields for staples like rice, maize, and cassava.

Dangote Ramps Up Fertiliser, Fuel Exports to African Markets

Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Industries, revealed that the group has increased exports of urea fertiliser and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to African nations hit by supply disruptions.

"The challenges are many. One is urea, which is a fertiliser that we have. In the last couple of days, we’ve been shipping mostly to African countries, which we were not doing before. And then now it’s petroleum products, which we are sending mainly to African countries," the business tycoon said.

The refinery, boasting a 650,000 barrels-per-day capacity, has dispatched about 17 cargoes of petrol to West, Central, and East Africa, ensuring a steady supply amid regional shortages.

"What I can do is assure Nigerians and most of West Africa, Central Africa, and East Africa—we have the capacity to supply them," Dangote affirmed.

This pivot not only eases fuel scarcity but indirectly supports farming by powering irrigation pumps, tractors, and transport chains critical for getting produce to markets.

Dangote's fertiliser arm, operational since 2022, produces millions of tonnes of urea annually, directly tackling a key bottleneck in African agriculture where fertiliser costs have soared due to global supply chain breaks.

For Nigerian entrepreneurs eyeing agribusiness, this expansion signals investment opportunities, much like the planned NGX listing of the refinery and fertiliser plant, which could democratise stakes in these assets.

Broader Implications for Nigeria's Agric Sector

This UN endorsement arrives as Nigeria reviews policies like its agriculture gender strategy to enhance food output, partnering with input dealers for quality seeds and fertilisers. 

Experts note that scaling such factories could slash Nigeria's $2 billion annual fertiliser import bill, freeing funds for irrigation and extension services. Entrepreneurs stand to gain from supply chains, while students can explore careers in agro-industrial engineering. Yet, sustained crude access remains pivotal; without it, high fuel prices could undermine farming gains.