Aliko Dangote Holds Private Meeting with President Tinubu at Aso Rock Villa

Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, was at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Tuesday evening for a private meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The high-profile encounter, which lasted about 30 minutes, saw Dangote depart without addressing the press on the specifics of their discussion.

The meeting comes at a crucial time for Nigeria’s economy, particularly in the downstream petroleum sector, where Dangote’s refinery is set to play a transformative role. While the agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed, it is widely speculated to revolve around key economic policies, the operations of the Dangote Refinery, and the country’s fuel distribution strategy.

This face-to-face meeting is notably their first at the Villa since President Tinubu toured the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Refinery in Lagos on June 5, 2025. During that visit, Dangote had praised Tinubu’s economic reforms and announced the renaming of the refinery’s main access road to “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road” in honor of the President’s vision for the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The encounter also follows a series of public comments from Aliko Dangote regarding the state of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure. Just days before this meeting, on July 11, Dangote had expressed strong doubts about the viability of state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, despite significant rehabilitation spending, suggesting they “may never operate properly again” and calling for bold policy shifts.

Furthermore, in mid-June, Dangote revealed his company’s ambitious plan to commence direct supply of petrol and diesel to retailers and large users from August 15, bypassing traditional fuel traders. This move has been met with mixed reactions, with industry groups like the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria expressing concerns over potential job losses.

Aliko Dangote’s investments span across cement, sugar, flour, and now a massive $20 billion refinery, Africa’s largest single-train plant. His recurrent visits to the Presidential Villa underscore the close collaboration between the nation’s top business leader and its political leadership, as the administration seeks to leverage private sector investment to drive economic recovery and stability. The public awaits any potential policy announcements that may emerge following this significant meeting.