​ Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced a strategic agreement with Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote to accelerate the construction of a massive domestic fertilizer factory. The decision aims to shield Ethiopia’s agricultural sector from severe disruptions caused by the ongoing war in Iran, which has triggered a global oil shortage and a critical deficit in agricultural inputs.

​The high-level emergency meeting focused entirely on shortening the project’s timeline to secure Ethiopia’s food supply. “We have agreed with Aliko Dangote to complete the fertilizer factory project in less than 40 months to serve our domestic market, with any surplus directed to the export market,” Prime Minister Abiy stated, emphasizing the urgency of the initiative.

​To meet this aggressive new deadline, both parties have initiated practical, round-the-clock operational adjustments. The strategy includes jointly resolving existing financial bottlenecks and establishing a dedicated residential village on-site to support a workforce of 5,000 laborers. Construction will transition into a continuous 24-hour cycle to maximize efficiency.

​Strict oversight mechanisms have already been implemented to ensure the project remains on track. The Ethiopian government and Dangote’s team have agreed to conduct rigorous joint progress evaluations every four months, allowing them to address potential delays in real-time and maintain momentum.

​Once operational, the state-of-the-art facility is projected to produce 3 million metric tons of urea fertilizer annually. Officials view the multi-billion-dollar project not just as an industrial milestone, but as a vital economic safeguard that will guarantee national self-sufficiency and insulate the country from volatile global supply chains.