“WE NOW HAVE A GREAT LEADER IN ONDO” — DANGOTE

“WE NOW HAVE A GREAT LEADER IN ONDO” — DANGOTE

President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that the leadership style of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, was a major factor behind his decision to return to the state and revive long-abandoned investment plans at the Olokola Free Trade Zone.

Dangote made the disclosure on Monday while speaking with journalists shortly after a courtesy visit to Governor Aiyedatiwa in Akure, where he announced plans to resume investment activities in Ondo State with what he described as Nigeria’s biggest industrial zone.

The billionaire businessman said the proposed development at Olokola would serve as a major industrial and investment hub equipped with critical infrastructure including electricity, water supply and other facilities needed for industries to establish operations without facing the usual infrastructure challenges.

According to him, the project is expected to begin construction in the last quarter of 2026 and will open massive economic opportunities for Ondo residents as well as neighboring states through direct and indirect job creation.

Explaining what informed his decision to revisit the project after leaving the state over a decade ago, Dangote openly praised Governor Aiyedatiwa, describing him as a visionary leader who understands the role of private sector investment in economic development.

He said, “First of all, I think now we have a great leader in Governor Aiyedatiwa who is a business-minded person. I think he knows the importance of bringing in private sector to develop the state. His actions have been very encouraging and that is one of the main reasons we came back here. The atmosphere is friendlier now.”

Dangote stated that the industrial zone would not only involve investment from the Dangote Group but would also attract other investors who can establish factories without worrying about providing their own infrastructure.

He explained that power supply, water access and developed industrial land would already be made available, allowing investors to focus entirely on production and expansion.

The Africa’s richest man also highlighted the massive economic impact similar projects have delivered elsewhere, recalling that during the construction phase of the Dangote Refinery project in Lagos, more than 67,000 workers were engaged.

He noted that once the Olokola project begins, local communities would benefit significantly through employment opportunities, increased commercial activities, housing development and sharp increases in land value.

Dangote added that communities around the industrial zone are expected to experience rapid economic transformation similar to what happened around the Lagos refinery corridor, where property values reportedly rose by over 1,500 percent.

Speaking on the scale of investment expected at Olokola, Dangote revealed that the new project could exceed the previously proposed $6 billion investment announced nearly two decades ago.

He explained that the renewed vision goes beyond a single corporate project and is designed as a large industrial ecosystem capable of attracting multiple companies and billions of dollars in fresh investments.

The announcement marks a major boost for Ondo State’s economic ambitions as the government intensifies efforts to attract private sector partnerships and position the state as one of Nigeria’s leading industrial destinations.