Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has criticised wealthy Nigerians who spend heavily on private jets and luxury cars rather than investing in businesses that can create jobs.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking with journalists on Friday, he argued that Nigeria cannot grow while relying on imports, describing importation as importing poverty and exporting jobs.
He stressed that development will only come when the country builds its own productive sectors, especially in agriculture, industry, and banking.
Dangote said, “If you have money for Rolls-Royce, you should go and put up an industry in your locality, or anywhere in part of Nigeria, wherever that you feel there is a need.”
“Everybody has a private jet. Those private jets should be in industries, so that we can create jobs.”
The business mogul noted that Nigeria’s fast-rising population, with 8.7 million births each year, will demand significant investments in electricity, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
He also reminded companies of their duty to pay taxes, describing the Government as the number one shareholder in every business because of tax contributions.
Dangote said, “What we are looking for is that [the] government should give us an enabling environment to do this. We too, as corporate citizens, we must make sure that we pay our taxes. We must behave. So it is a partnership.”
“If I pay tax, your children will be able to go to school. Your children will be able to go to [the] hospital. We don’t need to go to Cairo, London, or the US for medicals. We do it here.”
He added that Nigeria should strengthen policies that support local investors rather than focusing mainly on attracting foreign ones.
