Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote and Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday broke ground on the construction of the $2.5 billion Dangote Namibia Tank Farm and Regional Pipeline Project at Farm 58 in Walvis Bay.
The project will include a petroleum storage facility with a capacity of 600 million litres and a planned regional pipeline network spanning approximately 1,700 kilometres.
The infrastructure is expected to improve fuel supply and distribution while positioning Namibia as a key energy and logistics hub for Southern Africa, particularly for landlocked countries.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Dangote reaffirmed his confidence in Namibia’s investment potential and commended President Nandi-Ndaitwah for her leadership and commitment to advancing the project.
“Africa must industrialise Africa,” he said, adding that the continent had the resources, talent, markets and entrepreneurial capacity to build the infrastructure needed to drive its economic transformation.
Dangote said the investment was not solely about generating profits but also about creating long-term economic opportunities, developing local skills and reinvesting in the countries where the group operates.
“Whenever we enter another African country, we are coming home,” he said, adding that the Dangote Group intended to explore further investment opportunities in Namibia.
Describing the $2.5 billion project as only the beginning, Dangote said the group was willing to expand its investments into other sectors of the Namibian economy.
“We will not disappoint you. We will deliver as promised,” he told the president, adding that trust was the foundation of long-term investment partnerships.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the groundbreaking marked the culmination of engagements that began with her first meeting with Dangote, chairman and chief executive of the Dangote Group, in June 2025.
Recognising the strategic importance of the investment, the president said she had placed the project under the oversight of the Office of the President to ensure that administrative delays did not hinder its implementation.
Reflecting on challenges encountered during the process, she urged government institutions to act with urgency, accountability and a shared commitment to national development.
“This project will remain a presidential project until it is completed,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.
She said the value of the investment should be measured by the opportunities it created for ordinary Namibians, calling for greater participation by local businesses, skills development, job creation and opportunities for young people.
The president also highlighted the importance of value addition, industrialisation and partnerships that would enable Namibia to make better use of its natural resources and strategic geographical position, in line with the priorities of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).
Beyond its economic significance, Nandi-Ndaitwah described the investment as an example of African cooperation and the continent’s growing confidence in its capacity to drive its own development.
“As Africans, we are beginning to believe in ourselves,” she said, calling for stronger partnerships based on mutual trust and shared prosperity.
Erongo Regional Governor Dr. Nathalia /Goagoses welcomed the investment, highlighting the region’s strategic position as a gateway for trade, logistics and industrial development.
The project aligns with Namibia’s NDP6 priorities and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly in the areas of industrialisation, regional integration, economic growth and job creation.
As the project moves towards implementation, Nandi-Ndaitwah urged all stakeholders to translate their commitments into tangible results for Namibia and the wider region.
“Today we have spoken, and now we must act,” she said.
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