Dangote counsels Africa on infrastructure, policies

By Ada Anioji

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has counselled African nations to focus on tackling a lot of the infrastructural challenges that continue to affect growth in the continent.

He would also want a stability in investment policies in the continent so that investors and enterpreneurs like himself can plan over the long term’

The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group was speaking while answering questions on the Channels TV programme, View from the Top.

On his choice of businesses to engage in, he observed that he takes his time to fully analyse proposals before confirming that he could run with them.

‘I don’t really do any business that I cannot explain when you wake me up from sleep,’ he said.

On how he was able to juggle the different businesses within his group without dropping the ball, he observed that this was possible because of a number of factors.

‘The ball will not drop if you have the right IT. You also let go when you have processes and systems in place.’

On the issue of income inequality in the world, he says it is an issue ‘but then everybody cannot be rich. It is not possible.’

Defending his ongoing campaign to encourage Nigeria and other African nations to use cement for road construction as being more than a gambit to attract more business for himself and his numerous plants that are springing up across the continent, he stated that ‘the numbers are there and they confirm that cement-based roads will last longer.’

‘Concrete roads are solid and durable. Unlike the present situation where you begin to think of reconstructing roads after two or three rainy seasons, there is a different experience with concrete roads: the more it rains the stronger they become.

‘Another factor why concrete roads were being avoided in the past was on account of costs. It was more expensive in the past to build roads with cement but now with the current prices of cement in the market, it is cheaper now,’ he added.

Asked if he was yet interested in buying a controlling stake in the English Premiership club, Arsenal United, Dangote answered in the affirmative: ‘It is a target, it will happen one day.’