Onome Amuge
The Dangote Group has announced plans to substantially expand its cement, petrochemicals, and fertiliser operations across Africa, with the goal of becoming a $100 billion enterprise by 2030. Central to this strategy is a target cement production capacity of 90 million tonnes per year, which the company says would surpass Saudi Arabia’s total output by 50 per cent.
Aliko Dangote, president of the group, made the announcement recently in Lagos during an event recognising the company’s top distributors, where gifts valued at around N15 billion, including compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks, SUVs and other equipment, were awarded across regional, growth, export, and national performance categories.
The cement expansion forms part of the group’s Vision 2030 strategy, which is focused on industrial growth, cross-border investments, and the scaling of key production facilities. “Our ambitions go beyond building factories. It is about building Africa’s capacity to feed itself, power its economy, develop its people, and drive sustainable industrialisation,” Dangote said, outlining a strategy that spans multiple sectors of the continent’s industrial base.
Alongside cement, the conglomerate said it is pursuing major upgrades in its petroleum and petrochemicals operations. Construction work on the expansion of its Lagos refinery, which will see capacity rise from 650,000 to 1.4 million barrels per day, is scheduled to begin imminently. The company is also increasing fertiliser production from three million to 12 million metric tonnes per annum and expanding its polypropylene plant from 900,000 tonnes to 2.4 million tonnes per annum.
These expansions are accompanied by strategic investments across Africa, including a new fertiliser complex in Ethiopia, tank farms in Namibia, and pipeline infrastructure to support the distribution of refined petroleum products. Dangote highlighted that nationwide distribution is being strengthened by the planned deployment of 4,000 CNG-powered tankers, with daily loading currently averaging between 49 million and 50 million litres.
Industry analysts view the announcements as evidence of Dangote Group’s continued focus on industrial self-sufficiency and pan-African growth, particularly at a time when the continent is seeking to reduce dependency on imported goods and build local manufacturing capacity.
Emmanuel Ikazoboh, chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, emphasised the centrality of logistics optimisation and supply chain strengthening to support higher production volumes. Appointed chairman in 2025, Ikazoboh highlighted alternative energy investments and enhanced distribution networks as key to delivering products efficiently across Nigeria and other African markets. “Part of my vision as chairman of the board is to strengthen our supply chain by optimising our distribution networks and logistics to ensure timely delivery of products to our customers across the continent,” he said.
The cement target of 90 million tonnes by 2030 represents a nearly threefold increase from current production levels and reflects Dangote Group’s intention to consolidate its position as Africa’s largest cement producer. By comparison, the total production of Saudi Arabia is approximately 60 million tonnes annually, highlighting the scale of Dangote’s ambitions.
