Dangote Hails Tinubu’s Visionary Infrastructure Drive Amidst Global Climate Challenges

Lagos, Nigeria – In a powerful commendation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his “visionary leadership and farsightedness” in critical infrastructure projects, drawing a stark contrast with the recent tragic flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, USA. Dangote’s appreciation, conveyed in a letter, highlights the President’s impactful legacy in transforming Nigeria’s landscape and bolstering its resilience against environmental threats.

Dangote specifically lauded the Bar Beach Land Reclamation project, which has birthed the modern Eko Atlantic City. Initiated in 2008, this ambitious endeavor has transformed a once erosion-prone coastline in Victoria Island, Lagos, into a thriving new district. Eko Atlantic, a 10 million square meter city (with 6.52 million sq m already reclaimed), is safeguarded by an impressive 8.5-kilometer-long sea wall, known as the “Great Wall of Lagos.” This public-private partnership, commissioned in 2016, has not only provided a long-term solution to coastal erosion but also created a significant hub for investment, socioeconomic growth, and job creation, establishing Lagos as a leading financial and residential center in West Africa.

The industrialist’s letter underscored the President’s foresight, particularly in light of the devastating floods in Kerr County, Texas, which occurred between July 4-7, 2025, claiming at least 119 lives, with over 95 fatalities in Kerr County alone, due to intense rainfall causing the Guadalupe River to rise by as much as 29 feet in minutes. “Your foresightedness is even more visible in view of the tragic incident in Kerr County, Texas,” Dangote stated, emphasizing how Eko Atlantic protects Victoria Island and its environs from similar natural disasters. He further applauded the President’s “exemplary intervention” in mitigating perennial flooding along key Victoria Island arteries like Ahmadu Bello Way and Adetokunbo Ademola Street.

Beyond coastal protection, Dangote also praised President Tinubu for kickstarting two monumental road projects: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.

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The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a 700-750-kilometer project, commenced construction in March 2024 and is projected for completion by 2031. Designed with durable 11-inch thick concrete slabs, the first phase (30-47.47 km from Victoria Island to Eleko Village) was inaugurated by President Tinubu on May 26, 2024. This strategic highway aims to connect Nigeria’s western and south-eastern regions, enhancing trade and connectivity.

Complementing this, the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, a 1,068-kilometer project first conceived 48 years ago, has been resurrected under President Tinubu’s administration. Its groundbreaking took place on October 25, 2024, with significant sections in Sokoto (120km) and Kebbi (250km) already under construction. This superhighway is designed to be a modern concrete road equipped with lighting, CCTV, and emergency stations, significantly enriching Nigeria’s national road network and linking its six geo-political zones. Both ambitious highway projects are being handled by the reputable Hitech Construction Company Limited.

Drawing parallels to the land reclamation efforts in Zeeland, Netherlands, Dangote hailed these projects as a testament to ingenuity in managing environmental challenges and fostering development.
In his closing remarks, Dangote expressed gratitude for the President’s consistent support for businesses, which has “enabled a more prosperous nation.” In response to the nation’s own vulnerability to rising sea levels and flash flooding, the Aliko Dangote Foundation is set to announce contributions to a Climate Fund, targeting susceptible regions across Nigeria, in honor of the President’s proactive vision.

“I pray that the Almighty Allah (S. W.T.) would continue to increase your wisdom, burnish your vision and inspire you to greater heights of success for the benefit of all Nigerians,” Dangote concluded.