The Nigerian Aliko Dangote announced, on 28 August, the construction of a nitrogen fertilizer factory in Gode, in rural south-east Ethiopia.

Thanks to the giant fertilizer factory financed by Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa, Ethiopia hopes to improve his food safety. With this investment of 2.5 billion dollars (2.1 billion euros); the shareholder agreement provides for 60% for the group Dangote, 40% for Ethiopia. It will be one of the most important in history of the country, according to the company in a statement. With 3 million tons of annual production capacity announced within three years, this urea plant will rank among the five biggest of the world, pr é cise The press release é Style”, serif">, o where the billionaire r é affirms its will é d ' “ industrialize ' Africa ” .

For Brook Taye, director of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, the Ethiopian sovereign wealth fund, “this project is really fundamental for Ethiopia. To achieve food security, you have need fertilizer. An infrastructure of 3 million tons means that our farmers will have enough to feed their fields,” he said indicated.

According to the World Bank, the rate of use of Fertilizer in Ethiopia barely reaches 38 kilograms per hectare, when it is 119 kilograms per hectare in France. The financial institution estimates that the price of urea went from 215 to 925 dollars per ton between 2020 and 2022 on this market globalized, before falling back to 436 dollars at the beginning of 2025.

As a reminder, the Ethiopian population reaches 132 million inhabitants and its growth oscillates between 5% and 10% since 2006, according to the Bank global. However, it faces huge development challenges. and the fight against poverty.