In a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, Nigerian activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju made bold allegations against business mogul Aliko Dangote. Adeyanju accused Dangote of leveraging Nigeria’s wealth to sustain his position as Africa’s richest man, criticizing his business practices and connections with government officials.
During the podcast, Adeyanju did not hold back in his critique of Dangote, labeling him as a “shameless guy” who has exploited Nigeria’s resources for personal gain.
He claimed that Dangote has systematically eliminated competition within the country to preserve his business empire. “Dangote does not like competition,” Adeyanju asserted.
“He’s an Agip, All Government In Power. What he does is, before any government comes into power, he identifies who will win and donates money to them.”
Adeyanju elaborated on this alleged strategy, suggesting that Dangote’s tactic of supporting potential winners in Nigerian politics ensures his businesses receive favorable treatment.
However, he noted that this approach did not succeed with President Bola Tinubu’s administration. “Unfortunately, that did not work with Tinubu, and that’s why they are angry with him,” Adeyanju added.
He claimed that Tinubu’s associates are equally monopolistic and believe they can replicate Dangote’s ventures in oil and sugar industries.
Dangote, the founder of the Dangote Group, is known for his vast business empire spanning multiple sectors, including cement, sugar, and recently, oil refining.
He has consistently ranked as Africa’s richest man by Forbes, with a net worth exceeding $13 billion. Dangote’s influence in Nigeria’s economy is significant, often leading to debates about the balance between entrepreneurship and monopoly.
Dangote’s business practices have not been without controversy. Critics argue that his monopolistic strategies stifle competition and innovation within Nigeria.
The Dangote Group’s dominance in the cement industry, for example, has faced scrutiny and accusations of anti-competitive behavior. Additionally, his close ties with successive Nigerian governments have raised questions about the fairness of his business advantages.
The podcast comments come amid recent claims by Dangote that certain government and non-government officials are attempting to frustrate his $20 billion refinery project.
The refinery, which is expected to be one of the largest in the world, has faced numerous delays and challenges.
