Aliko Dangote Decries Africa’s Restrictive Travel Policies
Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s prominent business magnate, has lamented the cumbersome travel policies that investors face when travelling within Africa. Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Dangote highlighted the stringent visa requirements that impede the ease of doing business on the continent.
Dangote, 67, revealed that he requires 35 different visas to travel within Africa on his Nigerian passport. He expressed frustration over the time-consuming process of obtaining these visas, which involves visiting multiple embassies.
“I still complained to President Kagame. I told him that, as an investor, I have to now apply for 35 different visas on my passport, and I really don’t have the time to go and be dropping my passports in embassies to get a visa,” Dangote said. “The most annoying thing is that if you are treating everybody the same, then I can understand.”
Dangote contrasted his experience with that of Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman of Total Energies, who, with his French passport, does not face the same barriers. “You don’t need 35 visas on your French passport. This means you have a freer movement than myself in Africa,” he noted.
In his remarks on intra-African business, Dangote emphasised the need for greater regional collaboration and self-reliance, arguing that Africa cannot depend on foreign intervention to achieve its goals. “Our main job is to make sure the regional markets all work. Once they work, then we can now go to the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. But for AfCFTA to work, we need to ensure that it is effective,” he said.
Dangote pointed out that Africa’s intra-trade rate is alarmingly low, at less than 16 percent. “We Africans have to do it. If we are waiting for foreigners to come and do it, the development of Africa is not going to happen. It can only happen if we, as Africans, take the risk and lead,” he asserted.
During the event, Dangote also announced a significant development regarding Nigeria’s fuel importation. He assured that by June, with the commencement of production at the Dangote refinery, Nigeria would no longer need to import petrol. “Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of litre,” he promised.
He further stated that the refinery would address petrol shortfalls not only in Nigeria but across West Africa. “We have enough gasoline to give to at least the entire West Africa. We have enough diesel to give to West Africa and Central Africa,” Dangote added.
