Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote Group and Africa’s wealthiest individual, has launched a campaign for significant reforms in visa policies across the continent. His passionate appeal underscores the pressing obstacles these policies pose to investors and business leaders navigating the African landscape.
Dangote spoke at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali.
He said, as an investor, it was frustrating to have to apply for 35 different visas to travel within the African continent.
“I really don’t have time to go and drop my passport in embassies to get a visa. The most annoying thing is that if you are treating everybody the same, then I can understand,” Dangote lamented.
Dangote revealed that even influential political figures in Nigeria share his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs. He disclosed that President Bola Tinubu is committed to initiating reforms to streamline visa processes into Nigeria.
“On Monday, there was a cabinet meeting. President Tinubu was not happy about this same visa issue, and I can assure you that in the next couple of weeks, you will see a massive reform in terms of visas going into Nigeria,” Dangote assured.
Dangote’s call for visa reforms resonates with growing sentiments across the continent as African countries recognize the imperative of fostering a conducive environment for investment and economic growth. The restrictive and inconsistent visa policies currently in place pose significant barriers to intra-African trade and mobility.
Dangote’s call for streamlined visa processes is a significant step towards creating a more unified and accessible African market, crucial for the continent’s economic development and self-sufficiency.
