President Brice Oligui Nguema of Gabon has extended an invitation to Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest individual, to explore investment opportunities in Gabon’s cement and fertilizer sectors. Dangote Industries Limited confirmed that discussions focused on potential projects in cement production and urea and phosphate fertilizers, which are crucial for Gabon’s infrastructure and agriculture.
This invitation comes as Dangote faces regulatory challenges in Nigeria. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has criticized the Dangote Refinery’s product quality and claimed that it has not yet been licensed for full operation. NMDPRA’s CEO, Farouk Ahmed, has stated that the refinery is still in the pre-commissioning stage and cannot yet be relied upon for national fuel needs.
Dangote has rebutted these claims, asserting that his refinery’s products meet international standards and expressing frustration with ongoing obstacles. The situation has led to increased tension, with Dangote revealing that a former friend who advised against investing in Nigeria has used the current issues to criticize him.
In Nigeria, Minister of State for Petroleum, Heneiken Lokpobiri, has attempted to mediate the dispute, convening meetings with key stakeholders to resolve the crisis.