Nigeria’s industrial giant, Aliko Dangote, is charting new territory—and this time, it’s coal. In a bold expansion of his conglomerate’s export strategy, Africa’s wealthiest businessman announced that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) will begin coal exports from Nigeria in the coming weeks, adding fresh momentum to the country’s non-oil export drive.
Speaking during a visit to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Lagos on Monday, Dangote revealed a series of ambitious plans that signal a deeper push into commodities markets, including a target to earn between $6.5 million and $7 million daily from fertiliser exports within the next two years.
“We’ve already started exporting cement from our Itori plant, which has a six-million-ton capacity,” he said, “and now, coal exports are next. Fertiliser exports alone will account for at least eight cargoes consistently.”
This announcement marks another step in Dangote’s mission to transform Nigeria from an import-heavy economy into an export-driven one. His recent ventures—from cement to oil refining—have not only made headlines but are steadily rewriting the country’s industrial playbook.
A Fertiliser Boom in the Making
At the heart of this strategy is Dangote’s massive fertiliser complex, a facility that has become a major asset in Nigeria’s push for self-sufficiency in agriculture and exports. The company plans to export up to 16,000 tons of fertiliser per day, contributing to a substantial revenue stream that could change the face of Nigeria’s foreign earnings.
“If we sustain that pace, we’ll be generating nearly $7 million every day from fertiliser sales alone,” Dangote said. “That’s the kind of value we’re trying to unlock.”
Beyond coal and fertiliser, Dangote is targeting another essential commodity: polypropylene, a key input in manufacturing, especially for packaging. Nigeria currently imports around 90% of the 250,000 metric tons it consumes annually, costing the nation hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Dangote Industries plans to flip that script by producing and exporting between 600,000 to 700,000 metric tons of polypropylene, potentially saving the country about $267 million a year in import costs, while creating fresh export opportunities.
“We’re ramping up production—currently at 36 million polypropylene bags per month—and aiming higher in the years ahead,” Dangote said.
Refinery, Cement, and More
With the Dangote Refinery also coming online, the company is positioning itself to export over 25 million tons of refined products annually. Combined with coal, cement, polypropylene, and fertiliser, the conglomerate is emerging as a force reshaping Nigeria’s industrial identity.
This broad-spectrum export agenda fits neatly into President Bola Tinubu’s push to diversify Nigeria’s economy and reduce its over-reliance on crude oil.
While Dangote’s announcements were heavy on figures and forecasts, they also carried a deeper message: it’s time for Nigeria to take ownership of its industrial destiny. In a country where value chains have long been dominated by foreign imports, Dangote’s strategy sends a clear signal that homegrown industry can, and must, take the lead.
From coal-rich terrain to petrochemical plants and sprawling fertiliser hubs, Dangote’s empire is no longer just building factories—it’s building a new narrative for what’s possible in Africa’s largest economy.
