Dangote Petrochemical Plant To Boost Nigeria’s Textile Industry, Save US$ 267M
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has highlighted that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals’ production of polypropylene will play a key role in reviving Nigeria’s struggling textile industry while saving the country $267 million annually in import costs.
The $2 billion petrochemical plant, located in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, is designed to produce 77 grades of polypropylene, a critical raw material for several industries, including textiles.
Speaking on the Channels Business Incorporated Programme, Segun Kadir-Ajayi, Director-General of MAN, emphasized how the absence of local polypropylene production and the scarcity of foreign exchange for imports have forced many textile companies to shut down. He noted that Nigeria currently imports 90% of its annual polypropylene requirement, amounting to 250,000 metric tonnes, but the new plant will turn the country into a net exporter, boosting foreign exchange earnings.
“For us in the manufacturing sector, this is a welcome development. The production will cover our entire national demand, significantly impacting industries such as textiles, plastics, and furniture,” he stated.
Kadir added that with local polypropylene production, manufacturers will reduce costs, improve efficiency, and attract new investments. He also highlighted how the decline of Nigeria’s textile sector—which once employed over 25,000 workers in the northern region alone—contributed to widespread unemployment. The new development, he said, will help revitalize the industry and strengthen the economy.
