Dangote Industries Limited has executed a $800 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese engineering conglomerate Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd. to double the production capacity of its Itori cement plant in Ogun State from 6 million to 12 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA).
The expansion agreement, signed by Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote and Sinoma Chairman Lin Zhong, marks one of the largest single-facility industrial commitments in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector this year. The strategic expansion aims to satisfy rising domestic demand driven by federal infrastructure shifts while accelerating cement exports across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
Key Operational Highlights
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Doubling Installed Capacity: The $800m project will raise output at the Itori facility from 6 MTPA to 12 MTPA, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a regional manufacturing and export hub.
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Concrete Road Policy Driver: Aliko Dangote attributed the expansion decision to the Federal Government’s policy mandate prioritizing rigid concrete pavement over traditional asphalt for national road infrastructure, creating unprecedented domestic demand.
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AfCFTA & Foreign Exchange Focus: The boosted output will serve cement-deficient African markets, driving net foreign exchange inflows and positioning Dangote Cement closer to its Vision 2030 goal of achieving 90–100 MTPA total capacity across Africa.
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Engineering Partnership: Chinese contractor Sinoma International, which constructed several of Dangote’s existing plants, will deploy high-efficiency manufacturing technologies to execute the multi-year development.
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│ ITORI CEMENT PLANT $800M EXPANSION MATRIX │
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│ • Lead Entities : Dangote Industries Ltd & Sinoma International │
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│ • Investment Value : $800 Million (~₦1.11 Trillion) │
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│ • Plant Location : Itori, Ogun State, Nigeria │
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│ • Capacity Shift : Expanded from 6 MTPA to 12 MTPA (+100% capacity) │
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│ • Key Drivers : • FG concrete road construction policy │
│ • AfCFTA continental export expansion │
│ • Dangote Group Vision 2030 target (90–100 MTPA) │
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“A Bold Step in Strengthening Nigeria’s Industrial Base”
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote highlighted the long-term economic dividends of the investment:
“This $800 million investment represents another bold step in our commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base and reinforcing our leadership in Africa’s cement industry. The expansion of our Itori plant from 6Mt/yr to 12Mt/yr will not only enhance our ability to meet growing domestic demand, but also significantly increase our export capacity, thereby generating valuable foreign exchange for the country.” — Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group
In response, Sinoma Chairman Lin Zhong reaffirmed the Chinese engineering firm’s commitment to delivering top-tier technical standards:
“Sinoma will deploy its advanced engineering technology and global expertise to ensure the successful delivery of this project, further deepening the enduring strategic partnership between both organizations.” — Lin Zhong, Chairman of Sinoma International
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
