By Ayomide Otitoju
Dangote Cement Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable industrialisation, unveiling a comprehensive sustainability scorecard that places environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles at the centre of its strategy to become Africa’s most sustainable and globally competitive cement manufacturer.
The company presented its 2025 Sustainability Scorecard at its 17th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, where Chairman Emmanuel Ikazoboh said sustainability has evolved from a compliance obligation into a core business strategy that supports growth, resilience and long-term value creation.
Ikazoboh said the company’s sustainability agenda aligns with the broader Dangote Industries Limited Vision 2030, which seeks to build a globally competitive industrial powerhouse anchored on innovation and responsible business practices.
As part of its decarbonisation strategy, Dangote Cement announced plans to reduce its net carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) emissions intensity by an additional 20 per cent and expand the use of cleaner energy sources. He disclosed that by 2027, all fleet trucks operating in Nigeria, except those at the Gboko plant, will run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), while electric trucks will begin operations in 2026.
The company also revealed plans to expand port infrastructure at Apapa, Onne and Lekki to strengthen its position as Africa’s leading cement exporter. It aims to increase installed production capacity to 80 million tonnes per annum by 2030 through expansion projects, including new operations in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
On human capital development, Dangote Cement reported creating 625 direct green jobs and increasing social investment spending by 56 per cent. Graduate trainee recruitment rose by 74 per cent, while ₦2.1 billion was invested in employee training and development to strengthen workforce capacity across its operations.
The company also reported progress in reducing its environmental footprint, achieving a 6.5 per cent reduction in COâ‚‚ emissions intensity from its 2021 baseline. Energy intensity declined by 1.7 per cent, overall energy consumption dropped by 4 per cent and water consumption reduced by 8 per cent during the period under review.
Dangote Cement said it continued to advance its decarbonisation programme through greater use of alternative fuels, improved energy efficiency and reduced clinker content in cement production.
In the area of corporate governance, the company strengthened its ESG framework by introducing an Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Policy, Biodiversity Policy and Disability Inclusion Policy, while integrating 297 local vendors into its ESG-focused supply chain programme.
Ikazoboh said sustainability governance has become fully embedded in the company’s operations through stronger executive accountability, climate risk oversight and ESG performance management.
The company also expanded its DangCircular initiative, which promotes waste reduction and recycling. During the year, it co-processed more than 437,000 tonnes of waste as alternative fuel, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and improving resource efficiency.
As part of its biodiversity strategy, Dangote Cement launched the Tree-to-Forest Programme across its operations. The initiative targets the afforestation of 200 hectares of land in each country where it operates over five years through the planting of 700 trees per hectare.
The company noted that its sustainability journey began in 2017 with the establishment of the Dangote Seven Sustainability Pillars and reporting under the Global Reporting Initiative standards. Since then, it has introduced climate disclosure frameworks, biodiversity restoration programmes, sustainability champions and enterprise-wide ESG policies.
Dangote Cement also disclosed that it has attained a ‘B’ rating from the Carbon Disclosure Project for climate and water security reporting and has committed to adopting the IFRS Sustainability Standards ahead of regulatory requirements.
According to the company, sustainability remains the driving force behind Vision 2030, ensuring industrial expansion is balanced with environmental protection, social development and strong corporate governance.
Ikazoboh said the company’s sustainability strategy remains integral to its business objectives, positioning Dangote Cement for long-term growth, export expansion and continued leadership in sustainable industrialisation across Africa.
