The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, has described Aliko Dangote as Nigeria’s foremost industrialist, crediting his investments with playing a major role in advancing the country’s industrial development agenda.
Enoh made the remarks while leading a high-level delegation on a tour of the 700,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote Petrochemicals complex and Dangote Fertiliser Limited in Lagos.
The minister said Dangote’s participation in the launch of the Nigeria Industrial Policy (NIP) in February helped give the policy greater visibility and momentum.
“He is Nigeria’s champion. I mean, it’s even understated when they call him Africa’s wealthiest man,” Enoh said.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Industry had achieved its first 90-day implementation benchmark under the industrial policy and was working towards increasing manufacturing’s contribution to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP).
According to him, the ministry is targeting a rise in manufacturing’s share of GDP to about 20 per cent by 2030 and 25 per cent by 2035.
Enoh said achieving these targets would depend heavily on sustained investments from major industrial players, including Dangote’s businesses.
The minister also confirmed that discussions were ongoing with relevant authorities on a naira-for-crude arrangement for the Dangote Refinery, expressing optimism that the negotiations would be concluded successfully.
Following the tour, Enoh said his ministry would present Dangote with a three-point request focused on industrial training and skills development, downstream value-chain expansion and collaboration on free trade zone projects.
He said the refinery’s next phase of expansion would require about 65,000 additional trained personnel, making skills development a key priority.
The minister also highlighted the need to strengthen opportunities around the petrochemicals complex and expand partnerships on free trade zones, including the recently commissioned project in Ondo State.
Enoh expressed satisfaction with the refinery’s high level of automation, noting that technology had significantly reduced the number of workers required on site, with human presence largely limited to security operations.
Responding, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing Enoh as Minister of State for Industry.
Dangote said the minister’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s industrial sector was unmatched compared with previous industry ministers.
“We’ve had a lot of ministers of industry, but the commitment that we have from him, I can tell you, is none compared to the rest. His commitment is absolute,” Dangote said.
The industrialist also expressed support for President Tinubu’s ambition to grow Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy, describing the target as achievable.
He said Dangote Industries had created its own ambition of contributing $100 billion towards that vision by 2030.
“The vision of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a $1 trillion economy, I think is more than achievable. That’s why we took out from that vision of $1 trillion to carve our own vision, we have seen that, yes, we can do $100 billion out of that $1 trillion,” he said.
Dangote’s investments in refining, fertiliser, petrochemicals and manufacturing are expected to play a major role in Nigeria’s push for industrialisation, reduced import dependence and increased local production.
