Dangote Refinery has announced plans to commence the production of key raw materials used in detergent manufacturing in Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that the move is expected to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imports and strengthen local industrial capacity.
The company disclosed that it will soon begin producing surfactants, which are the main active ingredients in detergents used for washing clothes, cleaning surfaces, and maintaining personal hygiene.
The development is part of the refinery’s broader strategy to deepen local manufacturing, conserve foreign exchange, and support industrial growth across Nigeria and West Africa.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, David Bird, during a media briefing.
He revealed that the refinery has almost completed the commercial arrangements needed to install a Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB) plant to produce surfactants locally.
“I am very pleased today to announce that we have been in deep discussions with a licenser and just about to finalize the commercial terms for installing a linear alphabet benzene plant,” he said.
“And this is the surfactant; this is what makes the bubbles in detergent. So, as you know, with Dangote, we evaluate business opportunities by what demand is driven by pure population.”
Bird explained that Nigeria’s growing population and rising consumption levels make products such as fuel, lubricants, and detergents essential daily needs rather than luxury items.
According to him, the demand for these products across Nigeria and the wider West African region continues to increase, creating strong justification for local production.
He noted that the new LAB plant will significantly reduce dependence on imported detergent inputs, lower pressure on foreign exchange, cut production costs for manufacturers, and eventually lead to more affordable prices for consumers.
The project is also expected to improve profit margins for local producers and encourage further investment in the manufacturing sector.
“And we want to go for import substitution, and right now, 100% of the detergents used in West Africa are imported, so we will be building an LAB plant in order to make the surfactant,” Bird said.
He added that the initiative would help boost domestic production of detergents and cleaning products, create employment opportunities, and strengthen regional supply chains.
According to him, the decision reflects Dangote Group’s long-term commitment to reinvestment, economic sustainability, and industrial self-reliance for Nigeria and West Africa.
The refinery’s move is expected to further position Nigeria as a major manufacturing hub in the region while supporting government efforts to diversify the economy, promote local production, and reduce dependence on imports.
