Dangote Urges Elite: Industries Over Jets

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and president of Dangote Group, has sharply criticised Nigeria’s elite for prioritising private jets and Rolls-Royce cars over investments that build industries and generate jobs ​. Speaking to journalists after meeting President Bola Tinubu at Aso Rock Villa on Saturday, he lamented the congestion at local airports in Abuja and Lagos, where parking spaces for planes are scarce due to the proliferation of private jets among the wealthy ​. Dangote argued that such expenditures represent missed opportunities, declaring that the funds could instead establish factories in needy localities across Nigeria to drive industrialisation ​.

He linked this call to broader economic imperatives, warning that Nigeria’s import dependency equates to “importing poverty and exporting jobs,” while the nation’s population swells by 8.7 million babies annually, demanding urgent investments in power, infrastructure, healthcare, and education ​. Dangote emphasised self-reliance through agriculture, manufacturing, and robust banking, dismissing over-reliance on foreign investors who follow active domestic participation enabled by good policies, governance, and rule of law ​. He recalled past austerity, noting that even presidents used modest Peugeot 504 vehicles during military rule, setting a tone against ostentation ​.

Dangote positioned tax payment as a civic partnership, with government as the “number one shareholder” in businesses, funding schools and hospitals to reduce medical tourism to Cairo, London, or the US ​. This appeal aligns with his track record, including the $20 billion refinery project aimed at petroleum self-sufficiency and inspiring African industrial growth ​. By redirecting luxury spending, he envisions a Nigeria where local industries create jobs, curb poverty, and foster true economic independence ​.

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