Dangote: Africa Must Stop Importing What It Can Produce
Nigerian billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has called for a shift in Africa’s economic mindset, urging the continent to move away from dependence on imported refined products and embrace local industrial capacity. Speaking on the challenges of establishing large-scale refining infrastructure, Dangote Petroleum & Petrochemicals said the construction of a major refinery should be a source of collective pride, noting that several African countries have struggled for decades to achieve similar milestones.
He cited Angola and Uganda as examples of nations that have spent between 15 and 20 years attempting to develop refining capacity, yet remain heavily reliant on imports. According to Dangote, Africa’s continued export of raw materials only to import finished products perpetuates economic dependency and limits sustainable growth.
Dangote stressed that without domestic production capacity, African countries risk remaining trapped in a cycle that undermines industrial development and economic sovereignty, calling for urgent action to reverse the trend and add value locally.
Will African governments and private investors rise to the challenge of building the infrastructure needed to transform the continent’s industrial future?
