No Power, No Growth: Aliko Dangote Urges Urgent National Retreat to Fix Nigeria’s Electricity Crisis
The President and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has warned that Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful economic growth without solving its persistent electricity crisis. Speaking on Tuesday at the national launch of the National Industrial Policy 2025 in Abuja, Dangote called on the Federal Government to urgently convene a one- or two-day national retreat dedicated solely to resolving power sector challenges. His message was clear and emphatic: “Power means growth. No power, no growth.”
The event, themed “From Policy to Productivity: Implementing Nigeria’s Industrial Future,” drew top government officials, development partners, and captains of industry. President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Dangote acknowledged the government’s industrial policies and incentives as commendable but stressed that without stable electricity, manufacturers cannot expand production, create jobs, or compete effectively within Africa’s growing market.
Nigeria’s manufacturing sector has long struggled under the weight of erratic power supply, high production costs, infrastructure gaps, and heavy reliance on imports. Dangote lamented that many factories now spend more on generating electricity through diesel and alternative sources than on actual production. According to him, forcing businesses to build independent power plants and maintain backups is economically unsustainable. “There is nowhere you can get prosperity that way,” he noted, drawing applause from attendees.
His comments come on the heels of a recent five-day nationwide blackout triggered by gas supply constraints linked to maintenance activities by Seplat Energy, which affected seven power plants and caused widespread generation shortfalls. The disruption heightened concerns among manufacturers and households already grappling with rising inflation and operational costs. Industry stakeholders say frequent outages are compounding economic pressures and discouraging long-term investment.
Beyond electricity, Dangote also urged stronger protection for local industries, warning that excessive importation undermines domestic production and exports jobs. He argued that while policy incentives are attractive, they are insufficient without firm safeguards against dumping and unfair competition. Emphasising collaboration, he described the relationship between government and businesses as a “joint venture,” highlighting that private enterprise drives nearly 90 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP. For Dangote, the path forward is straightforward: fix power, protect local industries, reduce imports, and unlock Nigeria’s vast industrial potential.
source: punch