Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, made headlines during the high-profile visit of Bola Tinubu to the Lekki Deep Sea Port access road when he humorously corrected the event’s master of ceremonies for referring to him as “President” in the presence of Nigeria’s actual President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
President Tinubu was in Lagos as part of a series of inaugurations aimed at boosting Nigeria’s infrastructure and economic integration.
In a statement on his official X account, Tinubu highlighted the significance of these projects: “Transportation infrastructure is central to the success of our Renewed Hope agenda. Today, I am commissioning a number of strategic roads designed to open up key corridors for trade, agriculture, and regional integration. These include the reinforced concrete access road to the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Kano–Kongolam Road (Section II: Kano–Kanwar–Danja–Hadejia), the Yakasai–Zalli Road, and several others across Northern Nigeria. I will also flag off new road projects that are critical to fast-tracking our broader infrastructure goals.”
The Lekki corridor, now a hub for major industrial assets including the Dangote Refinery and the Deep Sea Port, has become vital for Nigeria’s trade and logistics.
The Dangote Refinery itself, with a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, is Africa’s largest and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s drive for energy self-sufficiency.
During the event, the MC introduced Dangote as “the President of Dangote Group,” prompting laughter and a swift, light-hearted correction from Dangote as he took the stage.
“Thank you very much. Your Excellency Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Mr MC, for your attention, next time when Mr President is around, my own title is chairman. Whether with the small P, Don’t call me President. I am sorry sir, he called me president. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Your Excellency on your visit to the Dangote refinery and petrochemical complex,” Dangote said, drawing smiles from the audience and President Tinubu himself.
The moment captured the cordial relationship between Nigeria’s top business leader and the presidency, as well as the gravity of the occasion—one focused on national development and economic transformation.
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