Dangote Fertiliser Project Targets 7, 000 Jobs
President, Dangote Group , Alhaji Aliko Dangote
By Crusoe Osagie
The employment generation drive of the Federal Government has received a boost, as indications emerged over the weekend that
the Dangote Fertiliser project in Edo State would provide a minimum of 7,000 jobs when it commences operations.
The project, it was gathered, will provide jobs for both skill and unskilled persons in addition to thousands of other complementary indirect jobs for artisans, traders and other allied businesses. Alhaji Aliko Dangote is currently the Chairman of the Federal Government Job Creation Committee.
The signing of the contract for the take-off of the fertiliser plant has already thrown the Edo communities hosting the project into excitement as it also complements the job creation efforts of the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
The Communities’ leaders praised the efforts of Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote group, in citing the project in their area.
Dangote had during the contract signing ceremony assured the host communities that the project will provide immense job opportunities for them.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had earmarked N50 billion for job creation in the 2011 budget. Stakeholders are of the opinion that the steps taken by the Dangote Group would go a long way in helping government to tackle the scourge of unemployment
and poverty reduction in the country.
Dangote Group, according to sources, has over 25,000 employees, both in direct and indirect cadre, in its many companies which spans across, oil and gas, manufacturing, steel, food production and many others
The fertiliser plant will be an excellent example of how to utilise a substantial amount of the country’s significant gas resources, as a raw material in the Ammonia-Urea fertiliser process. Ultimately, the project, when completed, will make the country self-sufficient in fertiliser production, thereby saving it the huge foreign reserves presently spent on importation of fertiliser.
With the agreement, Saipem is to build for the Dangote Group a fertiliser plant for the production of 7,700 MTPD of granulated Urea, (two trains with a production capacity of 3,850 metric tonnes each per day), and it is expected to start production in 2014.
The plant will be the largest in Africa as its closest competitor has installed capacity of only 1,000 metric tonnes per day of Ammonia and 1,500 metric tonnes per day of Urea; compared with the Dangote plants of 2,200 metric tonnes per day for Ammonia and 3,850 metric tonnes per train per day of Urea.
The project will provide a major boost to the agricultural sector by significantly reducing the importation of fertiliser in Nigeria and ultimately removing the need for imports when plant is in full production.
After the official signing ceremony, Dangote said he strongly shared the view of President Goodluck Jonathan that the country should not be importing those things. According to him, “we have the raw materials and natural advantage for producing locally and fertiliser is one of such products”.
Dangote said: “There is no reason why Nigeria should be importing fertiliser. I am happy that with this agreement; by the time our plant is completed and commissioned, the country will become self sufficient in fertiliser production and even have the capacity to export the products to other African countries.
“Right now, farmers are forced to utilise whatever fertiliser that is available as they have no choice, but we need to know that the fertiliser that will work in Jigawa State may not be suitable in Adamawa State, as they may not have the same soil type and composition. The same fertiliser you use for sorghum may not be the fertiliser you will use for sugar cane,” he added.
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