Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled plans for a major expansion into power generation, with the Dangote Group targeting up to 20,000 megawatts of electricity production in a move aimed at easing Nigeria’s chronic energy shortages.
Dangote disclosed the ambitious plan during an interview with Makhtar Diop, the managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), on Wednesday.
The proposed investment signals one of the boldest private-sector interventions yet in Nigeria’s struggling power industry, where unreliable electricity continues to hamper economic growth and industrial productivity.
Analysts say a 20,000MW target, if realised, could significantly reshape the country’s energy landscape, reducing dependence on the fragile national grid and boosting electricity access for businesses and households.
The announcement also underscores Dangote’s growing influence across key sectors of the Nigerian economy, following major investments in cement, fertiliser and refining.
