Dangote industrializes Africa – DG NCCIMA

The director general of the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA), Adamu Salihu, has described the Dangote Group as a transformative force in Africa’s economic revival, saying the conglomerate is “not just industrializing Nigeria, but the whole of Africa.”

Speaking ahead of the Dangote Special Day at the 22nd National Niger Fair in Minna, Salihu said the Chamber will use the event to further showcase the Group’s achievements to the people of Niger State, Nigerians and the wider African business community.

According to him, the Dangote Group’s continued investments in cement, sugar, salt, fertilizers, agriculture and energy have become a model of homegrown industrialization and proof that African entrepreneurs can build globally competitive businesses.

The Director General of NCCIMA explained that the theme of this year’s fair, Public-Private Partnership as a Panacea for Nigeria’s Growth and Stability, was deliberately chosen to highlight the critical role of government-private sector collaboration in promoting sustainable development.

He said Dangote Group’s investment profile closely aligns with Niger State’s development priorities, particularly in the agricultural sector, where the company’s rice and sugar operations complement the State’s vast arable land and ongoing drive to become Nigeria’s leading food production centre.

Salihu expressed optimism that the Group’s Vision 2030 strategy would help unlock large-scale investment in agriculture, mining and agro-processing in Niger State, sectors where the State enjoys both comparative and competitive advantages.

The Dangote Group currently operates in more than a dozen African countries, with interests ranging from cement, sugar, salt, fertilizers, petrochemicals, agriculture and energy.

The company says its core mission is to build local manufacturing capacity, create jobs and reduce import dependency across the continent.

Salihu said the Group’s backward integration strategy and local sourcing model have created wealth for Nigerians by stimulating domestic production and reducing the nation’s dependence on imports.

He described the Dangote Oil Refinery as a landmark project that has reshaped Nigeria’s energy landscape by conserving foreign exchange, eliminating fuel shortages, promoting competition and opening up new opportunities for indigenous investors.

According to Salihu, the refinery’s positive impact extends to states such as Niger, where lower logistics costs and improved fuel availability are expected to support manufacturing, agriculture and trade.

He added that Dangote Group’s commitment to local content, technology transfer and infrastructure development demonstrates how African-owned companies can lead the continent’s industrial transformation.

The Director General of NCCIMA has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to emulate the boldness of Group President Aliko Dangote by investing in the country and building businesses that create long-term value.

He also called on large companies to support nano, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises by integrating them into their supply chains, stressing that chambers of commerce can help identify credible businesses to act as suppliers and service providers.

Salihu appealed to exhibitors, investors and the public to support the annual Niger National Fair, describing it as a strategic platform to promote investments, build partnerships and advance the economic aspirations of Niger State and Nigeria as a whole.

Salihu said Dangote Group’s industrial ambition is extending beyond Nigeria, noting that recent discussions on establishing a major refinery in East Africa further show the company’s commitment to transforming the African economy.

Salihu said the proposal, presented by Dangote Group chairman Aliko Dangote, would replicate the 650,000 barrel-per-day Dangote oil refinery in Lagos and serve the East African market if governments in the region provide the necessary support.

He described the move as a clear demonstration that the Dangote Group “is industrialising not just Nigeria, but the whole of Africa”.

According to Salihu, the planned East African refinery demonstrates the Group’s strategic vision to build world-class industrial assets that reduce Africa’s dependence on imports, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs and strengthen regional value chains.

Dangote announced the proposal at the Africa We Build Summit in Nairobi, where he said his company is ready to build an identical refinery in East Africa, potentially within the next four to five years, subject to government support.

Salihu said this continental expansion is in line with Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 and confirms the company’s determination to use African capital, expertise and technology to drive industrial development across the continent.