Anyone aspiring to make big money and have influence in Nigeria has any of three main routes to take: do government contracts, be in government/politics, own an oil block. Of the three, the last is not the least.
It is not true that Aliko Dangote is the richest African. Nay, he is not even the richest Nigerian, but he is perhaps the most-loved Nigerian industrialist. Even though much of his money came from waivers that government granted him as he did importation business, he is greatly loved for creating jobs: the Dangote Group has created more jobs than any organisation else – it is the largest employer of labour after the federal government…
In Nigeria, however, most wealth is hidden. When, therefore, a son of the late Sani Abacha once stated that he could not be as poor as Dangote, he meant what he said…
At election times, these owners of Nigeria send most of the funds used for electioneering. That is why we hear that ABC and “friends” have donated N5billion when ABC has no means of livelihood. It is money smuggled into a political party’s purse through the back door. Some people sponsor presidential candidates of more than two parties…
Mike Adenuga attempted to buy Shell’s OML 30 for $1.2 billion. The minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, refused the sale of the OML30 to Adenuga, citing national interest. This block was sold to Heritage Oil for $800 million about a year later…
Family members of deceased kings inherit lots of wealth and influence too.
Former and current public functionaries (ministers, SGFs, CBN governors, heads of agencies) are on the list of Nigeria’s men of power…
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