“Dangote Projects $7M Daily Revenue as DIL Expands Fertiliser, Coal Exports”

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled ambitious plans for the expansion of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), including the export of coal and a targeted $7 million in daily revenue from fertiliser exports within the next two years. The revelation was made during a courtesy visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) headquarters in Lagos on Monday.

Dangote expressed confidence in Nigeria’s port infrastructure, noting that the DIL’s expansion plans are heavily reliant on effective port operations. He also praised the NPA for their ongoing efforts in facilitating maritime and trade activities and underscored the strategic alignment between the two institutions for national growth.

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“Daily Fertiliser Revenue and Coal Exports to Boost Nigeria’s FX Reserves”

During his visit, Dangote stated that DIL is on track to begin exporting coal from Nigeria—an initiative set to diversify the country’s export base. However, the standout component of his address was the fertiliser operations, where he estimated the company will export approximately 16,000 tons daily, amounting to between $6.5 million and $7 million in daily revenue.

“When you talk about 16,000 tons of fertiliser, it’s actually about $6.5 million to $7 million revenue that will be coming into the country on a daily basis,” Dangote said. “With our export programme, our company will be the major supplier of foreign exchange earnings in Nigeria.”

He further disclosed that the fertiliser division alone would load nearly eight export ships, marking an unprecedented level of operation in the nation’s history. Dangote’s conglomerate is expected to handle over 600 ships annually, including approximately 240 ships for crude oil exports from the Lekki axis, with each ship carrying one million barrels.

“This is an operation that has never, ever been seen in the country. So, it’s a major challenge. But with the leadership of the NPA, we are very comfortable that they will deliver,” Dangote said.

He emphasized that the operations’ success is closely tied to the NPA’s ability to provide necessary maritime services. He called on the federal government to support the NPA with essential resources such as equipment and tugboats to enhance its capacity to manage the surge in maritime traffic.

“Collaboration Key to Enhancing Port and Trade Infrastructure”

In response, Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director and CEO of the NPA, confirmed that Dangote’s visit was also to express appreciation for the federal government’s naira-for-crude policy, launched on October 1, 2024. Dantsoho noted that this policy has significantly improved transaction efficiency among government agencies and positively impacted port operations.

“We have treated or operated over 57 vessels every month since the policy began,” Dantsoho noted. “The projected volume that Dangote was looking at per annum was 600 vessels. If you do 56 or 57 vessels into 12 months, you will see that we are already exceeding that projection.”

The NPA boss added that coordinated efforts among government agencies are crucial for optimizing trade operations and achieving national economic targets. He also highlighted progress toward full implementation of the Port Community System, stating that Nigeria is now 95 percent ready for a more integrated and digitalized port environment.

On the future of Nigeria’s maritime sector, Dantsoho said capacity upgrades could be achieved through both brownfield (renovation of existing ports) and greenfield (development of new ports) strategies.

As DIL’s influence in Nigeria’s trade and export space continues to grow, the synergy between private sector giants like Dangote and public institutions like the NPA could serve as a cornerstone for Nigeria’s economic revitalization. Dangote’s remarks reiterate the pivotal role of export diversification and port infrastructure in shaping the country’s financial future.