Obasanjo: How I Helped Dangote Succeed in Cement Manufacturing

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he played a significant role in the success story of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, particularly in the growth of the cement industry in Nigeria.

Obasanjo made the revelation on Friday in Bauchi State during a public event that was captured on video and has since gone viral across social media and television platforms.

The former President explained that his administration deliberately created industrial policies to encourage local production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported goods particularly cement.

“I tied Dangote’s importation of cement to his production of cement,” Obasanjo said. “You can’t continue to import what you have the capacity to produce at home. That was the condition I gave him.”

He said the move was part of his broader economic vision to build local industries, generate employment, and strengthen private sector participation in national development.

According to Obasanjo, the decision to encourage Dangote’s venture into large-scale cement manufacturing was strategic and aimed at transforming Nigeria into a self-sufficient producer of cement and other construction materials.

“I monitored his progress closely and made sure he stayed focused on production,” Obasanjo added. “What we did was not just to help Dangote, but to help Nigeria grow its manufacturing base.”

The former President recalled that he also supported industrial collaborations and study visits that helped Dangote learn from established cement producers in other African countries.

The viral footage of his remarks, widely shared by Channels Television and other media outlets, has stirred public interest and debate on the role Obasanjo’s policies played in shaping modern Nigerian industries.

Obasanjo’s comments come at a time when Dangote Cement remains Nigeria’s leading producer and one of the largest in Africa, with plants spread across several countries on the continent.