Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has announced it is reinforcing its strategic collaboration with the Niger State Government to accelerate industrialization, expand investment opportunities, and promote sustainable economic growth in the state.
Expanding Agricultural Cooperation
According to a statement from the Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the conglomerate is working with the state government on several initiatives to deepen economic development. Beyond its annual sponsorship of the Niger Trade Fair, Dangote Rice Limited has signed a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state for the supply of paddy rice. Under this agreement, Dangote Rice Limited will guarantee the off-take of one million metric tons of paddy rice supplied by Niger Foods, aiming to boost food sufficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
Rice Mill Project Nearing Completion
The statement also quoted the Regional Director and Senior Adviser to the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, who confirmed steady progress on the company’s rice milling project in the state. She stated that the 32 Metric Tonnes Per Hour (MTPH) Dangote Rice Mill, being developed on a 30-hectare site in Wushishi, is nearing completion. The facility is expected to significantly enhance local rice production, create jobs, and support Nigeria’s food security drive. “Construction of the 32 MTPH Dangote Rice Mill in Wushishi is progressing steadily and remains on track for completion. The project represents a major milestone in strengthening food security and boosting agricultural development in the state,” she said.
Participation in Niger Trade Fair
Wali-Abdurrahman further noted that Dangote Group’s strategic business units will participate in the 22nd Niger Trade Fair, opening on May 14, 2026, under the theme “Public-Private Partnership as the Panacea for Nigeria’s Economic Growth and Stability.” Participating units include Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Salt (NASCON), Dangote Sugar Refinery, and Dangote Fertiliser Limited, among others. A dedicated desk has been set up to provide information on Dangote Refinery and other group investments.
Local and National Impact
Speaking in Minna, the Director General of the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NCCIMA), Adamu Salihu, said the 2026 trade fair is expected to attract about 300 exhibitors, including investors, policymakers, and business leaders from across the country. He commended Dangote Group for its sustained participation, describing the conglomerate as a key driver of industrialization in Nigeria and across Africa. “Dangote is not only industrialising Nigeria but indeed Africa. The Niger Chamber of Commerce will use the trade fair to showcase Dangote’s achievements to Nigerlites, Nigerians and the African continent,” he said. Salihu added that the consistent involvement of Dangote Group remains a major motivation for organizing the annual trade fair, noting that local investment is critical to sustainable national development. “Building the Nigeria of our dreams requires indigenous companies to take the lead in driving industrialisation and economic growth,” he said.
Chairman of Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, also revealed that the state plans to develop 25,000 hectares of commercial rice farms under the partnership, which he said is expected to create about 50,000 direct jobs over a 10-year period.
