The President and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has warned that Nigeria’s ongoing electricity crisis is the biggest threat to industrial growth and urged the Federal Government to urgently convene a national retreat to address the issue, he said on Tuesday in Abuja.
Dangote spoke at the official national launch of the National Industrial Policy 2025 in Abuja, an event themed “From Policy to Productivity: Implementing Nigeria’s Industrial Future.”
The industrial policy aims to strengthen manufacturing and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported goods by enhancing industrial capacity and competitiveness.
Reliable electricity supply has long been a central concern for manufacturers and industry stakeholders in Nigeria, with businesses often relying on costly self-generation due to inconsistent grid power.
Frequent outages affect operational costs, productivity and investment decisions across the manufacturing sector.
Dangote said Nigeria’s persistent power shortages remain a significant constraint on productive capacity and urged authorities to take decisive action.
He called on the Federal Government to convene a national retreat focused specifically on resolving the country’s electricity challenges
The industrialist emphasised that without a reliable power supply, efforts to industrialise and sustain economic growth would continue to be undermined.
He reiterated the maxim “no power, no growth”, underscoring the connection between dependable electricity and productive industry.
Dangote also commended the government on stabilising the foreign exchange market but maintained that resolving the power challenge remains critical for the successful implementation of the industrial policy.
Dangote’s warning highlights concerns among Nigeria’s leading industrialists about the cost and reliability of electricity as structural constraints to manufacturing growth.
A dependable power supply can reduce production costs, enhance competitiveness and attract further investment into Nigeria’s industrial sectors.
Manufacturers currently spend large sums on diesel and other generators to maintain operations, diverting resources away from expansion and productive activities. Addressing the electricity shortfall could improve efficiency and productivity in factories nationwide.
Dangote’s statements coincide with the launch of the National Industrial Policy 2025, which seeks to expand Nigeria’s industrial base and deepen value addition across key sectors, objectives that depend heavily on infrastructural support, including reliable power.
