Dangote Hails Tinubu’s Foresight on Infrastructure Development in Open Letter

By Iyojo Ameh

Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Mohammed Dangote, GCON, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and bold infrastructural initiatives aimed at transforming Nigeria’s economic and urban landscape.

In a letter addressed to the President on Wednesday, Dangote praised Tinubu’s foresight, particularly in the reclamation and transformation of the Bar Beach area in Victoria Island, Lagos, which birthed the Eko Atlantic City project.

“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, you began a process that transformed a coastline once prone to incessant floods into an emerging new district with a defining skyline and a hub for direct investment and socioeconomic growth since its conception in 2008,” Dangote wrote.

The industrialist compared the Eko Atlantic project to the tragic flooding in Kerr County, Texas, USA, where over 100 lives were recently lost to flash floods, underscoring the importance of proactive infrastructure development.

He noted that the 1,000-hectare modern city, protected by an 8.5-kilometre sea wall, has shielded Victoria Island from coastal erosion and perennial flooding, while creating new residential, commercial, and recreational opportunities.

Dangote continued, “Your Excellency, this success story is among your many legacies. Those of us who reside in Victoria Island are much better off today because of your intervention in ending ocean surges and addressing persistent flooding issues affecting major streets such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Bishop Oluwole Street, Amodu Ojikutu Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, and Karimu Kotun Street.”

He further commended Tinubu for initiating the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, describing them as major milestones in Nigeria’s infrastructural renaissance.

“These projects, particularly the resurrection of the 48-year-old Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway, are being executed by Hitech Construction Company Limited, a world-class construction and engineering firm, and will significantly improve connectivity across the country’s six geo-political zones,” he noted.

Dangote drew parallels between Tinubu’s infrastructural vision and land reclamation projects in the Netherlands, particularly in Zeeland, where submerged lands were transformed into usable space—a feat that inspired the Bar Beach transformation.

“As we mourn with the families of victims of the Texas flooding tragedy, we also recognize and appreciate your compassionate and visionary leadership, which continues to support businesses like ours and drive national prosperity,” he added.

In a show of solidarity with Tinubu’s climate resilience efforts, Dangote revealed that the Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon announce a contribution to a Climate Fund targeted at vulnerable communities in Nigeria affected by rising sea levels and flash floods.

He concluded his letter with a prayer: “Your Excellency, I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) continues to increase your wisdom, sharpen your vision, and inspire you to even greater accomplishments for the benefit of all Nigerians. Thank you very much, Asiwaju!”