Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has written an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in which he highly praised the President's bold leadership and groundbreaking projects that have significantly transformed Lagos and are setting a new benchmark for governance across Nigeria.
In his heartfelt letter, Dangote showered accolades on the President for his commitment to ambitious infrastructural projects and far-reaching urban renewal initiatives. He described Tinubu’s efforts as unprecedented and visionary, capable of inspiring both current and future leaders to adopt a more people-centered approach to governance.
Dangote pointed specifically to major undertakings in Lagos, such as the Bar Beach Land Reclamation project, which has transformed a once flood-prone and dangerous coastline into a dynamic and investment-attractive district. This redevelopment has played a crucial role in protecting Victoria Island and other key areas from coastal erosion and flooding while unlocking new opportunities for business and residential growth.
In his letter, Dangote explained that these large-scale, transformative efforts have not only improved the aesthetics and safety of the environment but have also strengthened Nigeria’s economic outlook by attracting foreign direct investments and boosting investor confidence.
Dangote further praised Tinubu’s commitment to developing critical national infrastructure, especially through the launch of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway. According to him, these projects represent a strategic approach to connecting different regions of Nigeria, thus fostering unity and national economic integration.
He emphasized that these highways would significantly improve the country's logistics network and create new economic corridors, which would stimulate local industries and create employment opportunities for countless Nigerians across various sectors.
Highlighting the uniqueness of Tinubu’s leadership, Dangote noted that such visionary projects had remained mere dreams under past administrations. He credited the President’s pragmatic approach and political courage as the key reasons these initiatives are now becoming a reality, calling them proof of Tinubu’s ability to deliver what many before him could not achieve.
The business mogul also pointed out that Tinubu’s vision mirrors successful land reclamation efforts in other parts of the world, such as in Zeeland, Netherlands, where submerged land was converted into productive agricultural and residential areas to combat flooding. According to Dangote, this shared philosophy underscores Tinubu’s status as a true visionary leader deserving of praise and support.
Furthermore, Dangote revealed that his Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon launch a dedicated Climate Fund aimed at supporting flood-prone communities across Nigeria. This initiative, he explained, is both a tribute to President Tinubu’s legacy and a proactive step to mitigate the devastating impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.
In closing, Dangote expressed profound gratitude on behalf of Dangote Industries Limited and offered prayers for President Tinubu’s continued wisdom, strength, and success in his ongoing efforts to lead Nigeria towards greater prosperity and stability. He underscored the need for all Nigerians to rally behind the President’s transformative agenda for the greater good of the nation.
Below is the full letter written by Aliko Dangote:
“OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR: APPRECIATION
Your Excellency, I would like to express my deep appreciation to you for your visionary leadership and farsightedness on the Bar Beach Land Reclamation project in Victoria Island, Lagos State. Through this project, begun a process which has transformed a coastline that was once prone to incessant floods, to an emerging new district, with a defining skyline and a receptacle for direct investment and socioeconomic growth ever since its conception in 2008.
Asiwaju of Africa, your foresightedness is even more visible in view of the tragic incident in Kerr County, Texas, USA where over 100 lives have sadly been lost to flash flooding. In the case of the Eko Atlantic City project spawned by you, a modern city spanning 1,000 hectares, protected by an 8.5-kilometre-long sea wall, protecting Victoria Island from coastal erosion and giving birth to a dwelling constructed from new land created through sand dredging from the Atlantic Ocean.
Your Excellency, this success story, which is now being used for residential, business, and recreational purposes, is amongst your many legacies, and those of us who live in Victoria Island are much better off for it. I applaud your exemplary intervention in ending the era of ocean surge and in continuously tackling the issue of perennial flooding affecting areas such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Bishop Oluwole Street, Amodu Ojikutu Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Street and Karimu Kotun Street, among others.
Mr. President, you added another feat by kickstarting the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto-Badagry superhighway—significantly enriching the country’s stock of infrastructure while improving the national road network linking Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. The latter of the two, being a resurrection of a 48-year-old project and both being handled by a first-rate construction and civil engineering firm in Hitech Construction Company Limited.
Indeed, Your Excellency, your inspired move recalls a similar methodology in a land reclamation process in Zeeland, Netherlands, where submerged land was transformed into usable, dry land, primarily for agriculture and settlement. This practice, which was applied to combat flooding, is a testament to the Dutch ingenuity and perseverance in managing water resources and creating a habitable landscape in a challenging environment. The same ethos resonates in the Bar Beach project, for which I salute you!
For all of us at Dangote Industries Limited, as we commiserate with the families of those who died in the Texas flooding incident, we are also grateful for your compassionate and visionary leadership, which has provided huge, consistent support for our businesses and enabled a more prosperous nation for the collective good.
Our dear nation has also suffered significant losses in lives and property due to rising sea levels and incidents of flash flooding. In honor of your vision, the Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon be announcing plans of contributing to a Climate Fund that will target those vulnerable parts of our country which are susceptible to this natural disaster.
Your Excellency, I pray that the Almighty Allah (S.W.T.) would continue to increase your wisdom, burnish your vision and inspire you to greater heights of success for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Thank you very much, Asiwaju!”
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