- In a December 1996 interview, Aliko Dangote admitted that a government mandate once forced him to import so much rice that the local market crashed by almost 80 percent. [2] -USA Cables
- The Dangote paradigm demonstrates how easily one powerful person can disrupt Nigeria’s floundering democratic and economic liberalization processes. -USA Cables
- Along with outright money laundering and corruption, the Dangote paradigm is arguably one of the key factors making Nigeria a politically and economically volatile country and a risky place to do business. -USA Cables
- Aliyu Mohammed (Gusau) said that Dangote and the other “Transcorp boys” seek a Yar’Adua presidency to facilitate their gaining control over most of Nigeria’s oil and gas production. -USA Cables c/o Wikileaks
*Editor Note- Article being revised with new information we are reviewing
NewsRescue- Our recent articles, Dangote Refinery: Nigerians Will Pay Double For Petroleum and Paying Double The World Price: Dangote Cements Nigerians In Poverty, have sensitized many Nigerians and stirred up much discourse and reaction including a defense from a “Dangote company Treasurer.”
In these articles, we described the “Dangote Business model” and informed Nigerians on how Dangote, and a hand-full of Nigerian cabal, set-up and control the Nigerian administration and together, cement the masses in permanent poverty. Dangote, the world’s 40th richest man has been described by the US according to wikileaks reports as operating a “Beggar-thy-countrymen” ie- get rich by turning Nigerians into beggars, business model.
Via government enforced advantages and monopolies and the destruction of all competition by his government stooges, the greatest benefactor of Nigeria’s corrupt governments over the years, Aliku Dangote, the embodiment of corruption itself, establishes himself in unimaginable wealth, and then buys press to placate the masses by making them believe that a few ‘slave-labor’ employments and charities define him as different, patriotic and benevolent. Contrary to popular narration, Dangote did not invest in Nigeria, Dangote uses Nigeria. Nigeria’s governments deposited the nations resource in Dangote.
In order to appreciate the nations predicament, we are fortunate to have the Wikileaks US cables, courtesy of Julian Assange, to digest the US account of his history, which includes his “admission” of crashing local market of rice due to excessive importation mandated by Nigerian government’s exclusive rights:
The “Miracle” Of Dangote’s Rags To Riches History According to The US Cables
Wikileaks: Jullian Assange
——————————————— ——–
FROM TRADING TO MANUFACTURING — THE DANGOTE AND GON (Government Of Nigeria)
SHARED DREAM
FROM TRADING TO MANUFACTURING — THE DANGOTE AND GON (Government Of Nigeria)
SHARED DREAM
Classified By: Consul General Brian Browne
——————————————— ——–
——————————————— ——–
¶7.
(C) Dangote’s shift toward manufacturing accords with the GON’s
nationalistic economic policies, which place a premium on domestic
manufacturing and production. What we don’t know is whether Dangote and
others like him helped drive the policy or whether their actions were
driven by the government policy. Reality is probably a mixture of both.
¶8. (C) In part, because of this shared dream, the Government has been very supportive of Dangote. We
know the company at one time or another held exclusive import rights in
sugar, cement, and rice using such advantages to do volume business and
undercut competitors. In a December 1996 interview, Aliko Dangote
admitted that a government mandate once forced him to import so much rice that the local market crashed by almost 80 percent. [2]
The direction of GON trade barriers also suggests preferential
treatment. High tariffs or outright bans on imported items favor the
Group in nearly all areas in which they do business including wheat
flour, cement, certain textiles, sugar and pasta.
¶9. (C) Further,
the GON is normally slow in privatizing state-owned production
facilities. Yet the Dangote Group swiftly won bids on GON-owned
manufacturing installations such as the Benue Cement Company and the
Savannah Sugar Company, and constructed its own berth at GON-owned Apapa
port in Lagos where ships with production inputs offload directly at
the Dangote Group factory.
———————————————
Early and Easy Access to Political Favoritism
———————————————
Early and Easy Access to Political Favoritism
———————————————
¶10. (U) Dangote is revered for his assumed rise from rags to riches but his family connections reveal a privileged beginning.
Dangote is from the prominent Dantata family of Kano State. The Dantata
family made its name and wealth in commodity trading. When in his early
twenties Dangote showed promise as a young businessperson, his uncle
Sanusi Dantata loaned him naira 500,000 (at the time worth USD 500,000)
to start out on his own.
¶11. (C) Because
of their influence in the Hausa and Muslim communities, Dangote and
Dantata have always been useful to both the civilian and military
leaders who ruled Nigeria. Dangote enjoyed GON favoritism in the form of
importing rights throughout the military regimes and coups of the 1980s
and 90s. Though he has connections with political figures throughout
the country, his link to Obasanjo (OBJ) paid off when OBJ was elected
president in 1999. Since then, Dangote’s market advantages and growth
have multiplied.
¶12. (C) Dangote
purportedly contributed 200 million naira (about $1.5 million at the
time) to Obasanjo’s first election campaign, and in 2003 at least
another one billion naira (about USD 7.5 million) for the second term.
Dangote is a known contributor to the PDP party. He is a close friend
with the governors of Kwara, Kogi, and Ogun states. He also enjoys
support from the Sokoto Caliphate, the spiritual and political seat of power of Muslims and members of the Hausa tribe.
——————————————— ———–
Nigeria’s Dangote Paradigm Stands in the Way of Economic
Liberalization and Democracy
——————————————— ———–
Nigeria’s Dangote Paradigm Stands in the Way of Economic
Liberalization and Democracy
——————————————— ———–
¶13. (C) The
special relationship Dangote holds with the GON defines the Dangote
paradigm. The paradigm demonstrates how easily one powerful person can
disrupt Nigeria’s floundering democratic and economic liberalization
processes. Along with outright money laundering and corruption, the
Dangote paradigm is arguably one of the key factors making Nigeria a
politically and economically volatile country and a risky place to do
business.
¶14.
(C) Dangote openly asserts the GON should do more to manage the economy
through protectionist measures to assist what he calls the “Nigerian
Industrial Renaissance.” He has no qualms about “alerting the
government” or “giving direction” in industrial policymaking. Dangote
and some members of the GON justify this protectionism with examples
such as US corporate and railroad barons and the gilded era of the late
1800s. This, they say, is the way to lay the foundation for economic
growth, particularly in the manufacturing and industrial sectors.
However, these alleged historic parallels do not mask the fact that the
chummy relationship between Dangote and the GON, while
superficially promoting manufacturing in some sectors, is causing
destructive and derailing economic activity and democracy in other
areas.
——-
Comment
——-
Comment
——-
Consul Brian Browne
¶16. (C) Dangote’s tremendous popularity
and acceptance is not likely to diminish. The average Nigerian considers
him, and more importantly, his way of doing business, a model to be
emulated. The fact is, however, the myriad preferences the GON has bestowed on the Dangote Group have distorted the market in ways that do more harm than good over the long haul. However, the Nigerian Government rarely takes a long-term perspective into account. The GON-Dangote relationship has been, at minimal, very chummy and mutually accommodating. Critics of this relationship would state that it smacks of insider trading.
Dangote does not epitomize the free market at work in Nigeria.What his story reveals is that he is one of the few free-wheeling actors in a relatively and artificially closed economic environment.
Dangote does not epitomize the free market at work in Nigeria.What his story reveals is that he is one of the few free-wheeling actors in a relatively and artificially closed economic environment.
To Be A Dangote
The undue and corrupt mutually beneficial advantage given by all Nigeria’s administrations, both military and civilian are the “secret” to Dangote’s success. Dangote kills Nigerians with economic terrorism. Fixing Nigeria starts with holding him and those who have impoverished the nation to his and their advantage to account. Since the 70′s Dangote has enjoyed sole importation and manufacture privileges that have killed and crippled all Nigeria’s indigenous industries including farming.A blogger in 2003 expressed on the NigeriaVillageSquare:
“Aliko Dangote, at the age of 21 in 1977 was given virtually the same privileges he’s got today by the military government of you guess who, Obasanjo. Here was a boy, who knew nothing about business and with no formal education, purportedly understudying his uncle, Sanusi Dantata, given the exclusive right to import cement into the country on behalf of a government involved in a spate of capital projects in those days, made possible by petrodollar. Now, does it need a genius to note that anyone given such a privilege would become an instant billionaire?”The partnership between Dangote and Obasanjo is “occult.”
The Cabal: Dangote And Obasanjo; the two men own over half of Nigeria by their private and government corrupt collaboration
- Related: NewsRescue- General Aliyu Mohammed “Die-to-rule” Gusau Exposed As Top Boko Haram Sponsor
Dangote and Transcorp Buys the Presidency – Cables
Dangote and OBJ Plant Dying Yar’Adua And Jonathan on Nigeria
¶4.(S) Aliyu Mohammed, saying he was quoting Yar’Adua directly, said that Obasanjo
had “ordered” the Katsina governor to contest for the Presidency.
had “ordered” the Katsina governor to contest for the Presidency.
When Yar’Adua
objected that the state of his health precluded it, Obasanjo countered that “God
will cure you,” and undertook to cover all medical expenses. When Yar’Adua said
he had no money, Obasanjo organized financial angels, all associated with Transcorp
and led by Northern millionaire Alhaji Aliko Dangote. This group is supplying the
Yar’Adua campaign with 45 jeeps (of which four are armored), a war chest of
5 billion naira, and a rented jet. (Aliyu Mohammed said that Dangote and the other
“Transcorp boys” seek a Yar’Adua presidency to facilitate their gaining control
over most of Nigeria’s oil and gas production.)
objected that the state of his health precluded it, Obasanjo countered that “God
will cure you,” and undertook to cover all medical expenses. When Yar’Adua said
he had no money, Obasanjo organized financial angels, all associated with Transcorp
and led by Northern millionaire Alhaji Aliko Dangote. This group is supplying the
Yar’Adua campaign with 45 jeeps (of which four are armored), a war chest of
5 billion naira, and a rented jet. (Aliyu Mohammed said that Dangote and the other
“Transcorp boys” seek a Yar’Adua presidency to facilitate their gaining control
over most of Nigeria’s oil and gas production.)
Andy Uba, recently selected as
PDP gubernatorial candidate for Anambra state, has been a “special assistant” to
President Obasanjo; he has no independent power base of his own, and is
widely disliked because of his arrogance. Aliyu Mohammed went on to say that
the President had ordered the arrest of the chief of staff to Rivers State
Governor Peter Odili to warn the latter away from seeking the vice presidential
nomination himself.
PDP gubernatorial candidate for Anambra state, has been a “special assistant” to
President Obasanjo; he has no independent power base of his own, and is
widely disliked because of his arrogance. Aliyu Mohammed went on to say that
the President had ordered the arrest of the chief of staff to Rivers State
Governor Peter Odili to warn the latter away from seeking the vice presidential
nomination himself.
7 years! The Ridiculous Cement Concessions By Obasanjo And the Resulting Exploitation of Nigerians
7 years is a Biblical term during which debts can be expunged, it is also the time limit for yet to be convicted crimes to be expunged in the US. 7 years is time enough to make or destroy a man or a nation. It is this length of time that the Obasanjo presidency gave Dangote to destroy all other cement companies in Nigeria and establish himself as Nigeria’s sole cement manufacturer.The Guardian on 4/24/03 writes :
- Dangote gets concessions for cement production
From Madu Onuorah, Abuja
THE Federal Government yesterday rolled out several incentives to an indigenous conglomerate, the Dangote Group, in its efforts to encourage Nigerians to invest locally. The business concession is to enable the company actualise an $850 million
project involving the establishment of cement production plants in three locations in Nigeria.
THE Federal Government yesterday rolled out several incentives to an indigenous conglomerate, the Dangote Group, in its efforts to encourage Nigerians to invest locally. The business concession is to enable the company actualise an $850 million
project involving the establishment of cement production plants in three locations in Nigeria.
Minister of Transport, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, announced after the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, yesterday that the incentives
included the granting of pioneer status to the company in the area of
cement production for seven years.
This means that within the
period, no new cement plant will be established in the country. Other
incentives include the granting of 2.5 per cent duty on all plants,
machinery and quarry equipment, exemption from payment of the Value
Added Tax (VAT) on all plant, machinery and quarry equipment and the
payment of only five per cent duty on construction materials not
available within the country.
In its request to the council for
establishment of the plants in Ogun, Kogi and Cross River states, the
Dangote Group requested from the Federal Government the following
investment palliatives;
pioneer status for 10 years; exemption of payment of duties on all plant, machinery and quarry equipment;
exemption of payment of VAT on
all plant, machinery and quarry equipment; exemption of payment of
duties on construction materials not locally available; massive road
construction at sites of the plant by the Federal Government, and;
permission to import five million metric tonnes of bulk cement at a
maximum rate of five per cent duties.
The three plants located in Ibesha,
Obagana and Odukpani, are expected to produce 4.3 million metric tonnes
of cement yearly by the year 2005.
Maduekwe explained, “we are doing this to
serve notice that this government is willing to support companies which
are willing to vote (for the country) with their cheque books. They
need to put their money in their country. This is a government that is
encouraging the business class. We are ready to do it for other
companies as we did to Dangote”.
The result of this undue and criminal advantage, was Dangote who had
by then first bought cement companies in neighboring African countries,
imported bulk cement into Nigeria with his 5% maximum duties and sold
this cement at ridiculous prices to crumble and destroy all his
competition. The government of Obasanjo also ensured he and he alone
bought all available cement plants.Kenn commented in 2003:
Did you know that Iyorchia Ayu lost his job as Minister of Industries for insisting that a more competent and qualified bidder takes over Benue Cement?
AllAfrica: Making the denial in an exclusive interview with THISDAY in Abuja at the weekend, Dr. Ayu said that rather, Dangote’s involvement in the purchase of BCC as core investor was political and not based on pure business interest.
I’m sure you’re aware that Dangote is the
spirit behind the so-called “Corporate Nigeria” raising billions of
naira for Obasanjo’s re-election. I’m sure you’re also aware that he was
“the young Kano businessman” that parachuted the intimidating tonnes of
Ghana-Must-Go into the PDP convention ground. He’s also rumoured to
have backed all the PDP governorship aspirants in the South-West,
including Bukola Saraki in Kwara. This is quite apart from the claim
that he’s the linchpin of Babangida’s 2007 project – his specific brief
being to create and facilitate support in the South-West for the Evil
Genius. And, isn’t it conveniently coincidental that he’s getting this
immediately after the Presidential elections? And, by the way, how does
“permission to import five million metric tonnes of bulk cement at a
maximum rate of five percent duties” (note that no one is taking
minimum) help in the indigenous production of cement, even as we all
know that the raw material abounds in our country?
There’s nothing wrong with national
governments supporting indigenous private enterprise in order to improve
competitive advantage, but check all the relevant and successful
examples, from South Korea to Japan or China and one thing you see is
that they’re usually directed at a group/industry; it’s never done for
the benefit of a single individual. What is being done with Dangote in the name of promoting indigenous business is simply crass
favouritism. To put it bluntly, he’s a front for those who’re using
their political power to provide him these privileges. It is criminal,
to say the least.
Dangote Repays Nigeria For Our Generosity By Then Selling Cement To Masses At Triple Global Price
The most important problem with all this is the result. If Dangote was appreciative and fearful enough of the sacrifice Nigeria, Nigerian businesses and the Nigerian government had given him, he would sell his cement, now that he has established himself as the top producer, at costs that are considerate. Not, Aliku Beggar-they-countrymen Dangote. Dangote rather ensured that he, supplying up to 90% of Nigeria’s cement, forced the price per bag up to N2900, about $17/bag. This is over three times the global average for the product.Dying Yar’Adua tried to no avail to beg the evil Don Dangote to cut prices of cement down to N1000 per bag to allow growth. Dangote blackmailed Yar’Adua according to this report:
Back-off Cement or face the Consequences, Dangote tells Yar’Adua
A fresh offensive to bring down the price of cement has already hit a snag as the powerful cement cartel led by billionaire business magnate, Alhaji Aliko Dangote are digging trenches ahead of what promises to be an imminent showdown with President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua over a planned move to grant more cement import licenses to importers outside the main industry cartel.
Sources at the Presidency told Huhuonline.com that whereas President Yar’adua wants to force down the price of cement to at least N1000 per bag, Dangote remains hell-bent on keeping the price at its current average level of N2000 per bag, in order to continue reaping the astronomical profits he has been earning because of his oligopolistic status within the sector.Late Yar’Adua Tried
“If the government grants licenses to people to import cement, we’ll close down our factories and lay-off workers; and when that happens, the domestic production capacity will reduce drastically; supply will still not match demand and the prices will even sky-rocket further. My advice is that the president should back-off the cement industry or face the consequences”, Dangote was quoted as warning Yar’adua by an industry source who elected anonymity…..
“It is amazing how a shriveled conscience like Dangote can be allowed to inflict so much pain on other Nigerians,” the source told Huhuonline.com, adding: “President Yar’Adua is greatly concerned that the cement cartel is frustrating his efforts to enable more Nigerians own houses by keeping the price of cement above the reach of many citizens. He has therefore begun a process of dismantling the cartel as he did in the downstream sector of the oil industry to curb the excesses of fuel marketers and nothing; not even Dangote will stop the President.”Hulu; 7 July 2009
Unfortunately death stopped Yar’Adua. Hopefully he wasn’t poisoned.One must commend the Jonathan administration for being able to force a tiny reduction in sale price on assumption of power in respect to this ungratefulness and criminal exploitation and profiteering on the backs of the Nigerian masses. Jonathan forced the cement manufacturers to reduce the cost. Cement now sells in Nigeria for N1650-1800/bag. That is about $10-11/bag. Our article, Paying Double The World Price: Dangote Cements Nigerians In Poverty details how this is still twice the global average for the same size product. A writer online reacted to this, proposing that the fact that the Dangote company declares “outrageous” profits indicated the exorbitant sale price of his cement was not related to the cost of production, which includes electricity generation, but set out of sheer wickedness and greed.
Ibeto Cement confirms that cement should sell for N800 a bag at the most with all production costs and government advantages given to Dangote considered.
AllAfrica: Shareholders of Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) are to reap a double for the year ended December 31, 2011, as the company has recommended the payment of cash dividend and bonus issue. [Selling at double reaps double. His exploitative rate is not due to the cost of power generation, etc.]
The Jonathan administration continues the Dangote favoritism, continuing to destroy all other cement competitors, to ensure Dangote maintains his exploitative monopoly. According to the Punch,
Cement price still defies laws of demand and supply: March 21, 2013 by Samuel Awoyinfa, Nigerian Punch
“Sometime in June, 2012, Ibeto Cement had to seek a legal option to retain its import license when the FG tried to stop it.The latter’s action was said to be based on advice allegedly offered by local manufacturers (Guess who?). Reacting to this trend, the chairman of New Entrants into Cement Production, Mr. David Iweta, says there is a need for the local manufacturers to review their prices downwards, since there are many variables that work in their favour, which the importers of the commodity do not enjoy….”
Iweta sees no reason why a bag of 50kg bag of cement should be sold above N800, since local manufacturers are using lime stones, which are sourced locally, as raw materials. Besides, he notes that labour is available and cheap. He says, “I believe it is exploitation for Nigerians to pay above N800 for a 50kg bag of cement as retail price. Let them reduce it to N700 and see how the commodity will disappear from the market.”
Also, Iweta does not see wisdom in selling imported and locally produced cement at the same price. According to him, an importer pays $100 on cost and freight per metric tonne of cement. He says the locally produced cement should be cheaper than the imported variety because the latter attracts duty and 35 per cent levy, which is another $35 per tonne.
“The local manufacturers do not pay these levies. So, their prices should be cheaper. Imported cement sells within the same price range as the locally-produced ones. This should not be,” Iweta stresses. Read full on Punch
The Same Plan Again With Tokunbo Cars
Nigeria’s
government again decided to punish the masses by creating similar
advantages and frustrations for its people while favoring the cabal. The
plan to ban the importation of Tokunbo cars was eagerly announced after
the Minister of Industry who is eager to stamp his name on the sands of
time; after many meetings with the cabal and car manufacturers, planned
to once again frustrate all car dealers, a 320,000 Nigerians employing
industry, out of business, in favor of the hand full of cabal who intend
to usurp this industry and extort the masses.It is a trade-off, manufacturing for exploitation and enslavement of the masses to the cabal, who will sell worse or same products at the highest prices worldwide.
NewsRescue sources have described unbelievable lobbying that has been going on in Nigeria ahead of this announcement of a proposed ban. The plan that has been on the table with dealers like Coscharis Group Motors, Elizade motors and others who have been lobbying strongly, is for them to work with foreign car companies and bring them to assemble and manufacture in Nigeria. However as is with the Nigerian system as exemplified by the Dangote cement model, these cabal will manufacture and sell these cars of select choices and forced on Nigerians for whatever price they wish. And the people will first be punished to support the cabal company stock and assure them of government favor, before any cars are even produced.
Dangote Is The Cabal Archetype Behind Nigeria’s Suffering, Bad Government, Corruption and Poverty
This
man, who has risen to global wealth status epitomizes Nigeria’s biggest
problems. He is the head of the cabal behind Nigeria’s biggest
political party, the PDP. He chooses and sponsors the presidential
candidates who can help him totally exploit the nation. As the cable
report stated, his aim is to take over control of all Nigeria’s oil, gas
and other resources.With his government favoritism, he collapses all competition and small businesses in Nigeria and establishes himself as the sole importer or manufacturer.
One wonders if when Nigeria begins its touted exportation, Dangote will sell his $hit abroad for $13.00, that’s the $11 he sells it to Nigerians plus export costs. He’ll probably export it for $2/bag!
Nigerians are grateful that he employs them (slaves) to labor in his companies, they fail to realize that he can not employ animals or use machines to work his industries that make the product he uses in Nigerian markets to rip them off of their future. See: SaharaReporters-No To Slave Labour At Dangote’s Savannah Sugar Company
As a best analogy, Dangote is just like the European colonialist. He imposes governments, steals resource and labor, and ‘employs’ a slave labor for self enrichment in the same model they ran the sugar plantations in Africa. Thanking him for his industries and jobs is just like revering the White man for the employment of slavery. Like a parasite, he needs Nigeria, his host. He did not invest his money in Nigeria, the system Obasanjo and others run through him is a Nigeria based corporate siphon and exploitation by assuming the role of the government.
Obasanjo Even Hurriedly Auctioned Nigeria’s Refineries To Dangote: Luckily Yar’Adua Reserved It -Leadership
Before his hurried exit from the presidency following the humiliation of the aborted term elongation, former president Obasanjo auctioned Nigeria’s most prized national assets, the Warri and Kaduna refineries to Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola. It took the rare courage of late President Musa Yar’Adua to listen to the national outrage trailing the auction and reverse it. -Read more on Leadership ; President Yar’adua, Reverses The Sales Of African Petroleum In National Interest -GamjiThe lack of maintenance of Nigeria’s national assets is not unlinked to the commitment to selling them to, and replacing them by the Cabal, of which Dangote is chief front-man.
A few challenge him to make his money and take his products to compete in normal markets and countries.
We earlier wrote that it can be predicted that when Dangote’s refinery is operational, Nigerians will pay double the price for petroleum products. The removal of the government oil subsidy January 2012, is very much related to the preparation of the pathway to the Dangote refinery. This removal by Jonathan helped boost the worth of Dangote’s refinery stock and helps him get loans to invest in the project. It is the same Obasanjo method of crippling the government ability and crippling the masses to make Dangote. Related: AP Shareholders To Petition London Stock Exchange over Dangote
Nigerians are also happy with his pennies in charity which help him get tax breaks as is done by all other big companies. Nigerian breweries for instance sponsors shows all over Nigeria all year round, not because they love to party, but as donations to reduce their levied tax.
SaharaReporters: Aliko Dangote Is A Criminal
What
he passes as entrepreneurial practices are brigandage and piracy
personified. A few years ago, when someone I know attempted to import
corned beef into Nigeria from Botswana for distribution, he couldn’t on
the grounds that it was on the prohibited list. When I nosed around, I
ascertained that this same criminal, Aliko Dangote imports into Nigeria
and distributes all manner of corned beef from Argentina, Brazil and
Australia. His shenanigan over cement stinks to high heavens. … after I
discerned that every iota of cement that comes into Nigeria was through
Aliko Dangote. …that the decision made in high quarters is that every
cement importation must be left in the hands of manufacturers. Who else
constitutes cement manufacturers in Nigeria? Aliko Dangote, the
criminal. Closer investigation that I conducted clearly revealed that
this Aliko Dangote has exclusive access, use and control of the Onne
wharf in Port Harcourt… that anyone, be the one from the customs, or any
other state establishment that tries to venture close to that wharf
will receive the lashing of his or her life from the goons that man the
place for Aliko Dangote. It’s right through Onne that he imports and
exports whatever he wants. Read fullIt is commonly said in Dangote’s Kano, with its 1.5 million Almajiri (beggars) that “dog is more loved in Kano than Dangote.”
Summarizing, a US wikileak cable put it thus:
¶1. (C) Summary. Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Dangote) is Nigeria’s most well known
businessperson and may be its wealthiest citizen. He has taken on
the aura of an economic folk hero for some, villain for others.
To supporters, he symbolizes that Nigeria can do more than barter and
trade. It can succeed in manufacturing. To detractors, he is
a predator using connections in a corrupt political economy to tilt
the playing field in his favor and sideline potential competition.
The truth resides somewhere between these caricatures.
Dangote is counted among President Obasanjo’s inner circle of business
advisors. It is no coincidence that many products on Nigeria’s import
ban lists are items in which Dangote has major interests.
businessperson and may be its wealthiest citizen. He has taken on
the aura of an economic folk hero for some, villain for others.
To supporters, he symbolizes that Nigeria can do more than barter and
trade. It can succeed in manufacturing. To detractors, he is
a predator using connections in a corrupt political economy to tilt
the playing field in his favor and sideline potential competition.
The truth resides somewhere between these caricatures.
Dangote is counted among President Obasanjo’s inner circle of business
advisors. It is no coincidence that many products on Nigeria’s import
ban lists are items in which Dangote has major interests.
¶2. (C) Summary Cont’d: Although an undiluted success in terms of wealth accumulation,
Dangote personifies the duality in Nigeria’s economy. This duality
presents a dilemma for US economic policy. On one hand, Dangote imports
significant amounts of US produce and equipment for his manufacturing
ventures. On the other, he has had success blocking trade and investment
that might compete with his enterprises. Weighing everything in
the balance, we believe the Dangote model is harmful to Nigerian and
American interests in the long run. Unfortunately, the Dangote model
will likely be the one most emulated until its beggar-thy-countrymen
contradictions become more apparent. End summary.
Dangote personifies the duality in Nigeria’s economy. This duality
presents a dilemma for US economic policy. On one hand, Dangote imports
significant amounts of US produce and equipment for his manufacturing
ventures. On the other, he has had success blocking trade and investment
that might compete with his enterprises. Weighing everything in
the balance, we believe the Dangote model is harmful to Nigerian and
American interests in the long run. Unfortunately, the Dangote model
will likely be the one most emulated until its beggar-thy-countrymen
contradictions become more apparent. End summary.
Nigeria, Where Crime Is Revered: Jonathan Gave GCON To Nigeria’s Top Cabal Crook
To add insult to the injury Nigerian’s bear from this dangerous grand crook, on 14th November, 2011, president Goodluck Jonathan awarded his sponsor and puppet master, Dangote the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the nation’s second highest award, previously the exclusive preserve of Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents and Chief Justices of Nigeria.
GCON: Nigeria where crime is rewarded
Read: Dr. Damages interviews Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke: He is a very dangerous man…they allowed Dangote Cement, an unquoted company, to merge with Benue Cement Company.
Something that is unheard of. And with that merger, that man now has
51% of Nigeria’s total market capitalization. No serious government
anywhere in the world will leave its economy in the hands of one man. It
is very dangerous. …the Federal government lost N25 billion in the Dangote Cement merger with Benue Cement. Dangote pocketed N20 billion…
A reader’s comment of note:Kudos to newsrescue for being brave and honest enough to expose this. Other newspapers are afraid of this thief or seeking his favor. why should i pay DOUBLE to build my house because a greedy man like this who government has criminally disproportionately advantaged, wants todeclare DOUBLE profit for his fellow cabal and foreign investors!!! God blessDeadly Boko Haram, which Dangote has said is not Nigeria’s major problem (he proposes infrastructure building which he owns as the major issue), and tribalism keep Nigerians distracted, not noticing their country is being transferred to this Cabal.
To protect the image he gets in the press, you will see his sponsored ads on almost all Nigerian newspapers and popular blogs. Look out for the emblem that lets you know Aliko beggar-thy-countrymen Dangote runs what you read:
Immunity from criticism of the press bought by paid sponsored ads
