By Abasi Ita
The South South Development Commission (SSDC) and the Dangote Group have strengthened their partnership after a two day working visit by SSDC Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, to Dangote Group President, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, in Lagos.
The engagement included an extensive tour of the multi billion dollar Dangote Refinery, where Dangote reaffirmed his commitment to driving economic growth across the South South region. He revealed that plans are already in motion for the Group to establish operational bases in the region as part of its ongoing expansion.
Dangote also announced a renewed push for youth empowerment. He said the Group will train more young people from the South South to acquire globally competitive technical skills for high value jobs locally and internationally. According to him, exporting skilled labour and the remittances it will generate can significantly boost the regional economy.
He added that the expansion will improve access to fertilizer, enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen the Compressed Natural Gas value chain in line with Nigeria’s clean energy goals. The Group also plans to set up CNG cogeneration stations across the South South to widen energy access and support local industries.
Speaking on agriculture, Dangote outlined a partnership with the SSDC that will equip farmers with soil specific fertilizers aimed at improving crop quality for both domestic markets and export. The initiative is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and will be supported by the advanced fertilizer and petrochemical laboratory of Dangote Industries.
He further commended engineers from the South South trained under the Presidential Amnesty Programme, noting their competence and contributions to previous projects. He assured that their expertise will again be utilised in the new phase of regional expansion.
SSDC Managing Director, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, expressed confidence in the partnership, stressing that the South South remains Nigeria’s energy hub, maritime backbone and industrial corridor. She said the Commission is committed to providing a supportive policy environment across the six states to maximise the impact of Dangote Group’s investments.
Akpabio highlighted refined product depots, coastal logistics bases, agricultural value chain growth and expanded technical training through the Dangote Academy as central areas of collaboration. She said the partnership marks a significant step toward accelerating inclusive economic development across the region.