Ethiopia has signed a $2.5 billion shareholder investment agreement with Nigeria’s Dangote Group to build a massive fertilizer production complex, in what officials called a major step toward ensuring food security and agricultural transformation.
The deal, signed Thursday with Ethiopian Investment Holdings, paves the way for the construction of a facility capable of producing up to 3 million metric tons of fertilizer annually.
Once operational, the plant is expected to place Ethiopia among the world’s largest fertilizer producers.
“This project will create jobs locally, ensure a reliable fertilizer supply for our farmers who have long faced challenges, and mark a decisive step in our path to food sovereignty,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
The government framed the agreement as part of its broader strategy to strengthen the economy through large-scale investments that serve farmers and improve competitiveness across Africa.
The project would reduce dependence on fertilizer imports, stabilize supply for agricultural producers, and boost national output.
Following the signing, Abiy announced that an official groundbreaking will take place at the project site. “We have started this journey, and we will finish it for our farmers, for our economy, and for Ethiopia’s future,” he added.
The fertilizer complex represents one of the largest single private-sector investments in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.
Analysts say it could help address chronic shortages that have hindered crop yields in recent years.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Bantu Gazette
