Despite its bloody impact on national psyche currently, sectarian killings by extremist group Boko Haram, is by far, not Nigeria’s worst evil, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote believes.
Speaking somewhat more of a businessman, keener about growing his expansive business empire than the insecurity around him, Mr. Dangote said Nigeria’s notorious deficient infrastructure is far more of a headache than Boko Haram.
“I don’t have any issue with government raising money, that is, loan, so long as it is spent well. Beyond the issue of Boko Haram and insecurity, the greatest threat that confronts us is the threat of decaying and decayed infrastructure. And this is not just in Nigeria but in all of Africa, the greatest threat is infrastructure,” Mr. Dangote told journalists last Wednesday, his 56th birthday.
“Somebody was asked how he would operate in government and the person said he would face only two things – infrastructure and education. And he was asked what about the rest. He said with infrastructure, other things would follow. This is what I think confronts us as the greatest danger even beyond Boko Haram”.
Mr. Dangote said nothing hurts the economy more-and by extension jobs, security and others-than obsolete roads, railways, ports, power and others. He cited a dysfunction at the port: “To clear a container in Lagos it would take about $1000 but in Brazil where they are not even efficient, it costs less than $100 to clear the same container.
“The issue which people seem to forget is that the last port we built in Nigeria, the Tin Can Island Port, was built in 1978 – look at the population of Nigeria at that time, the size of the economy, crude oil was being sold for about $9 and compare with the expansion of the economy and the population and people think we should still manage with the same facility?
“God forbid, some people were expressing fears about Third Mainland Bridge; God forbid I say, should something happen to that bridge, how would people move around in Lagos? Look at how difficult it is for people to move around now and it is being said that by 2020 Nigeria’s population would be about 200 million.”
Posted: at 14-04-2013 09:34 PM (12 years ago) | Hero
henryemekaob at 14-04-2013 10:06 PM (12 years ago) (m)
what do u expect him to say cos his life or his business is not posed treat just like christian brothers resideing in the north but first approach count life ,stability as well as peace, now u can put in place infastructure. which is needed more significantly in tha deadly region called nigeria!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted: at 14-04-2013 10:06 PM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
odprince at 15-04-2013 12:29 AM (12 years ago) (m)
he is one of them,if your wife and children's have been killed by the boko haram sect,,,you will not sound like that,boko haram doesn't concern you because you are one of them.you do business with our so called corrupt politicians,,,,,your time is coming
Posted: at 15-04-2013 12:29 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Ask_For_Email at 15-04-2013 12:42 AM (12 years ago) (m)
I didn't know the man, but this was all I need http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangote_Group to get up to speed. Damn right he complaining about infrastructure cause he wants to enrich himself. He don't care if you get blown up by some fools.
Posted: at 15-04-2013 12:42 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
RealOnyeigbo at 15-04-2013 01:23 AM (12 years ago) (m)
HE IS DANM RIGHT!
Whoever have tested life overseas will see sense in what this man is talking about.
Africa's problems lies on infrastructure. The painful thing is that the people of Africa who are used to bad governance cannot understand him, that bad roads, no electricity, no water, no companies to work and earn over 1 million Dollars a year as salaries, no millions of work that can help graduates to build and buy already built houses, make holidays to any part of the world, build own 3 strorey-buildings as just Supervisors in a company without resorting to crime, corrupt and sharp practices but normal work and get bank supports for the person because s/he has a good job. People can use their pension insurance as collaterial security to buy all and most of their life's needs, etc. etc. as it is in most developed countries.where you can meet one person earning official salary of over 3 million dollars a year, etc. etc.
Then everybody will run way from risking life, suicide bombings, carrying of MEND and BOKO Haram guns to kill innocent people because the killers are like morons and displaced people. If Nigeria can take a lead in keen development, instead of these dirty, stinking, idiot and wicked leaders, then the country will not short of security. EVERY BODY WILL BE BUBBLING WITH HOPE AND CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE.
Dangote is modest not to add that NIGERIA LEADERS SINCE INDEPENDENCE 1960 are the problems of Nigeria, vis-a-vis Africa.
Posted: at 15-04-2013 01:23 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
YomiBaby at 15-04-2013 01:42 AM (12 years ago) (f)
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Posted: at 15-04-2013 01:42 AM (12 years ago) | Upcoming
Biafranwar at 15-04-2013 01:55 AM (12 years ago) (m)
I personally agreed with Dangote on this because the so called nigeria leaders r the boko harams, moreover the same nigeria leaders have killed more than the boko harams
Posted: at 15-04-2013 01:55 AM (12 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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