‘It’s easier you put me in prison than take my phone away’ — Dangote
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has said he would rather be imprisoned than have his phone taken away, describing losing access to the device as a “no-go area”. The post ‘It’s easier you put me in prison than take…
Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Group and widely recognised as Africa's richest man, built his conglomerate around cement, sugar, flour and, more recently, the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery in Lagos — one of the largest single-train refineries in the world. As a businessman overseeing operations across multiple African countries, he is known for an intensely hands-on management style, reportedly staying personally reachable to staff and monitoring his businesses closely, which may explain the premium he places on constant phone access.
The remark, made in the course of a public conversation, has been picked up by multiple outlets largely for its candour and humour rather than any policy or business announcement. Vanguard and Tribune Online both report the comment in near-identical terms, with Tribune additionally noting video footage of the exchange. Neither report provides further context on the setting of the remark, what prompted the comparison to prison, or additional quotes beyond the headline statement.