Dangote Don Urge Rich Nigerians Make Dem Invest, No Be Buy Rolls-Royce

Lagos, Nigeria

Na big matter wey Aliko Dangote, di king of cement and food for Naija, don talk recently. For one interview wey dey scatter social media, him don tell rich Nigerians make dem stop to dey chop luxury like Rolls-Royce and private jets. Instead, him wan make dem use di money to build industries wey go fit create jobs. E no make sense for am say all dem big men wey dey fly private jets no dey fit create work for di people dem.

‘If you get money to buy Rolls-Royce, why you no go use dat money open one factory for ya side wey dey need am?’ Dangote yarn. (Na true talk, if person fit buy car wey go carry small village for head, e suppose fit help di same village.)

Him dey vex anytime e land for local airport, and e no fit believe say everybody dey park private jet like na regular taxi wey dem dey use for street. E don talk say dem jets suppose dey for industries, no be for sky wey dem no go fit land am back.

For di matter of our growing population wey dey increase like banga, Dangote get serious message for both government and private sector. ‘Every year, we dey produce 7.8 million babies, so we need to step up our game!’ him talk with serious face. (Abeg, who fit carry all dis pikin dem go school? We need better infrastructure first!)

Him even talk say taxation dey heavy for business, but na wetin everybody suppose pay to support di country growth. ‘We no dey mind di heavy tax, because at di end of di day, government na di number one shareholder for any business here,’ him say. (No be small wah, rich men dey side government for tax matter.)

Dangote no gree make people rely too much on foreign investors. Him don vex talk say, ‘Na domestic investors go first accept any foreign investor. Wetin go attract dem na good policy and rule of law.’ (Which one come be ‘foreign investor’ sef? Na dem go come chop our local money.)

Him also share some painful stories wey him company face for textile sector, when e say dem sack 7,000 workers in one day! E be like say wahala no dey ever finish for dis country. But him don declare say: ‘We need to industrialise our country, no be play.’ (E fit be small idea, but e dey correct well well.)