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ALIKO DANGOTE Is City People Man Of The Year

by City People

At the end of every year, City People usually picks a Man of the Year. It is one person whose activities impacted lives of many Nigerians across the country.

As 2025 comes to an end, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of Dangote Group has emerged City People’s Man Of The Year. He has touched many lives for the year 2025 significantly through his Dangote Refinery project. He dared where others feared to tread. He put together a collasal sum of money to build a world class refinery that has been producing petrol and other refined products.

He not only built the refinery, he fought many battles with many Stakeholders who rebuffed all attempts by him to make Nigeria self-sufficient in the production of Petrol and other refined products and serious thinking.

The stress of this investment alone has taken its toll on the Kano born businessman. He has suddenly grown old with a lot of grey hairs, the result of lots of sleepless nights and serious thinking.

How has Aliko Dangote touched the lives of many Nigerians? We can tell you authoritatively that Aliko Dangote has made a significant impact on the lives of many Nigerians through his refinery. During Xmas Season/End of year period like this, there are usually queues accross the country due to scarcity of petrol. All that is no more.

Aliko Dangote has also made a significant impact on lives through his philanthropic efforts and business ventures. His Aliko Dangote Foundation, has improved education, healthcare, and economic empowerment in Nigeria. Some notable initiatives include:

-Education: Dangote has pledged  N1 trillion ($688 million) to overhaul Nigeria’s education sector, focusing on STEM education, female empowerment, teacher training, and vocational readiness.

– Healthcare: The foundation has supported healthcare initiatives, including combating polio and COVID-19, and providing medical supplies to hospitals.

– Economic Empowerment: Dangote has empowered women through micro-grant programs, supporting small-scale businesses and entrepreneurs.

– Food Security: Dangote has distributed millions of bags of rice to vulnerable households across Nigeria.

Dangote’s business ventures have also contributed to Nigeria’s economic growth. This include:

– Dangote Refinery: The largest oil refinery in Africa, has saved billions in foreign exchange and create thousands of jobs.

-Dangote Cement has made Nigeria a net exporter of cement, reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

-Dangote Fertilizer has boosted agricultural production, reducing reliance on imported fertilizers.

– Healthcare: The Aliko Dangote Foundation has supported healthcare initiatives, including combating polio and COVID-19, and providing medical supplies to hospitals.

-Economic Empowerment: Dangote has empowered women through micro-grant programs, supporting small-scale businesses and entrepreneurs.

-Food Security: Dangote has distributed millions of bags of rice to vulnerable households across Nigeria.

Aliko Dangote’s impact on the society is multifaceted:

-Job Creation: His businesses have created thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction.

-Infrastructure Development: Dangote’s investments in cement, fertilizer, and refinery projects have improved Nigeria’s infrastructure, boosting economic activity and reducing import dependencies.

-Philanthropy: His foundation has supported education, healthcare, and disaster relief efforts, improving living standards for many Nigerians.

-Role Model: Dangote serves as an inspiration to many Nigerians, demonstrating the potential for success through hard work and entrepreneurship.

-Economic Growth: His businesses have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s GDP, making him a key player in the country’s economic development.

The fact that Aliko Dangote has brought down the price of petrol multiple times in 2025, with at least 20 price adjustments has made him the darling of many Nigerians. Some notable reductions include:

December 2025: The refinery slashed the gantry price of petrol by N129, from N828 to N699 per litre, with MRS selling petrol at N739 per litre.

-February 2025: Dangote reduced the price of petrol twice, first from N950 to N890, and then to N825 per litre.

-April 2025: The refinery cut the price to N835 per litre, with pump prices ranging from N860 to N890 depending on the region.

-November 2025: Prices were reduced to between N875 and N905 per litre, varying by location .

These price cuts reflect Dangote’s efforts to make energy more affordable and accessible for Nigerians, while also increasing competition in the downstream oil sector.

The impact of Dangote Refinery’s price reductions is multifaceted and far-reaching. Here are some key effects:

-Relief for Consumers: With petrol prices dropping to N699 per litre, Nigerians are experiencing significant savings on transportation costs, especially during the festive season.

-Increased Competition: The refinery’s aggressive pricing strategy has forced other marketers to reduce their prices, creating a competitive market that benefits consumers.

-Reduced Smuggling: Dangote’s competitive pricing has reduced arbitrage opportunities, making it less attractive for smugglers to export fuel to neighboring countries.

-Pressure on Importers: Import-dependent marketers are facing significant pressure, with some forced to sell below cost to remain competitive.

-Economic Growth: Lower fuel prices could stimulate economic growth by reducing transportation costs and increasing consumer spending power.

-Job Creation: The refinery’s operations have created thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, contributing to Nigeria’s economic development.

Dangote Refinery’s price reductions sparked a Price war, with some marketers selling petrol below the refinery’s cost. This intense competition is expected to continue, driving innovation and efficiency in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.

Consumers have generally welcomed the price cuts, with some praising President Bola Tinubu and the Dangote Group for their efforts to reduce petrol prices.

But Aliko Dangote had to fight many battles and won all.

He’s faced numerous challenges and overcome them with Grit and Determination. Some notable battles include:

-Funding struggles: Dangote initially struggled to secure funding for his projects, but he persevered and found alternative sources.

-Competition: He’s faced stiff competition in various industries, including cement and sugar, but has consistently innovated and adapted to stay ahead.

-Infrastructure challenges: Dangote has had to contend with Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructure, often investing in his own solutions to ensure smooth operations.

-Policy hurdles: He’s navigated complex regulatory environments and policy changes, using his influence to advocate for business-friendly policies.

-Skepticism and criticism: Dangote has faced doubts and criticism throughout his career, but has proven his critics wrong with his achievements.

Despite these battles, Dangote has emerged stronger, building a business empire that spans multiple industries and continents. His story is an inspiration to many entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Aliko Dangote has also had his fair share of battles with Regulators. Some notable examples include:

-Import restrictions: Dangote has clashed with regulators over import restrictions on cement and sugar, advocating for policies that support local production.

-Tariff disputes: He’s disputed tariffs on imported raw materials, arguing they hinder local production and increase costs.

-Regulatory approvals: Dangote has faced delays and challenges in obtaining regulatory approvals for his projects, often requiring persistence and negotiation.

-Competition concerns: Regulators have scrutinized Dangote’s dominant market positions, leading to tensions and adjustments in his business strategies.

Despite these challenges, Dangote has maintained a strong relationship with the government, often leveraging his influence to shape policies and regulations. He’s also invested in building robust regulatory frameworks and engaging with policymakers to ensure a favorable business environment.

The importance of having Dangote Refinery?

Having a Dangote Refinery in Nigeria cannot be over emphasised. It comes with several advantages:

-Reduced fuel imports: The refinery is expected to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel demand, reducing reliance on imports and saving foreign exchange.

-Job creation: The refinery has created thousands of jobs, both directly and indirectly, contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth.

-Lower fuel prices: Dangote Refinery’s operations have led to reduced fuel prices, benefiting consumers and businesses.

-Increased energy security: The refinery enhances Nigeria’s energy security by ensuring a stable supply of refined petroleum products.

-Economic diversification: The refinery supports Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy, reducing dependence on crude oil exports.

-Value addition: The refinery adds value to Nigeria’s crude oil resources, generating revenue and stimulating economic growth.

-Industrial development: The refinery’s operations are expected to spur industrial development, attracting investments and promoting economic diversification.

Dangote Refinery’s current production capacity is 650,000 barrels per day, making it Africa’s largest refinery and the world’s largest single-train refinery.  Aliko Dangote has announced plans to expand the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day, which would make it the world’s largest refinery, surpassing India’s Jamnagar Refinery with 1.24 million bpd capacity. This expansion is expected to be completed within 3 years and will require an additional 65,000 workers during the construction process.

The refinery’s expansion is expected to boost Nigeria’s energy independence, reduce foreign exchange outflows, and save the country billions of dollars annually.

That is why City People has picked him as the City People Man of the year

Aliko Dangote has certainly made a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy and beyond. His achievements, particularly with the Dangote Refinery, have earned him recognition and accolades, make a strong case for him being made a “Man of the Year” or a notable figure of our time.

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