President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Sunday, announced that his fertilizer production plant is ready and will start fertilizer production in two weeks.
Dangote made the disclosure on Sunday when he took selected journalists on tour of the fertilizer production facility in Lagos.
While on tour of the plant, Alhaji Dangote highlighted the imminent restart of fertilizer production as a crucial step in supporting the agricultural community.
“The demand for fertilizer from Nigerian farmers and across Africa has been immense. We are committed to meeting this demand and supporting agricultural productivity,” he said.
According to him, the fertilizer’s plant will significantly enhance the availability of high-quality fertilizers and provides farmers with essential resources to boost crop yields.
“This move is expected to have a positive ripple effect on food production and agricultural sustainability across the region,” he noted.
During the tour, Dangote shared that the refinery’s crude supply issues had been a significant hurdle adding that with the crude supply challenges behind the organisation, the refinery is poised to begin rolling out petrol by August 2024.
The Dangote Refinery, commissioned in May 2023, had faced challenges with crude oil supply, impacting its petrol production capabilities.
However, these issues have now been resolved with the assistance of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the federal government.
Speaking about the challenges facing stakeholders in the sector, Vice President of Oil and Gas at DIL, Devakumar Edwin, explained that international oil companies had previously frustrated efforts to purchase local crude, forcing the refinery to import crude from distant markets, which increased production costs.
He said, “Despite these challenges, the refinery has persevered, and the upcoming resumption of fertilizer production marks a significant milestone.
“This initiative not only underscores Dangote Industries’ commitment to supporting Nigerian agriculture but also promises to stabilize fertilizer supply, reducing dependency on imports and ensuring farmers have access to affordable and effective fertilizers.”