Aliko Dangote And His Billions -By Charles Ogbu

Truth is, Aliko Dangote didn’t become Africa’s richest businessman by any dint of hard work or possession of special business acumen. Far from it. Dangote is who he is today because for some reason, successive govts both from the South and North have always come up with anti-competition policies aimed at destroying other businesses just to create a monopoly for him.

And my guess is, so many highly placed Nigerians from North and South, both in govt and out of govt, have stakes in the Dangote Group which is why they keep feeding him with the monopolistic govt breasts.

The moment he declared interest in diary, the FG banned the importation of milk. To gift him with monopoly over cement, Ibeto cement and others were run off the market. The few still in the market are struggling to breathe due to unfair anti-competitive govt policies churned out deliberately in favor of Dangote.

Even as the land border is still closed to other businesses, it remains open for Dangote to bring in anything.

While you are going from one place to another sourcing for forex to import goods, Dangote gets forex directly from the govt.

Dangote is amongst the very few (if he is not the only one) with Govt Waiver to import just about anything. So while other businesses are speaking long grammar at the border with Customs, Dangote for don finish selling his products and gone to market again.

Now do pray tell, WHO WILL NOT BECOME THE RICHEST MAN WITH SUCH A GOVT-GIFTED MONOPOLY AND FAVOURITISM?? Even Ikenga – my 7 year old son – will become wealthier than Dangote if given such unfair business advantage.

Fact is, in a competitive business environment, a Chinedu with a half shop at Ogbete main market or Ariaria may do better than Dangote.

Healthy competition brings out the best in people. Be it in politics, business, education etc.
Part of the reason this country is the way it is is because she wasn’t structured to encourage healthy competition.

To be clear, this is not me beefing Dangote. Not at all. But it’s good we put things in proper perspective which is that Dangote is not the richest businessman because he has the best business acumen or works harder than every other businessman in Nigeria. Rather, he is as wealthy as he is today because he is a “govt pikin” whose business depends mainly on govt killing off other businesses to create a monopoly and special favoritism for him.

Twitter @RealCharlesOgbu.