Elizabeth Vincent, Yenagoa
Business mogul and chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has lauded Bayelsa state governor, senator Douye Diri, for his investment friendly leadership, describing the state as a safe haven for business.
Dangote, Africa’s richest man, made the remarks on friday at government house, yenagoa, during the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between his firm and the Bayelsa State Government, the partnership aims to foster investments in key sectors including oil and gas development, agro-allied processing, seaport infrastructure, and more.
The visit follows Governor Diri’s earlier trip to the Dangote refinery in Lekki, Lagos, in July 2024, as well as a prior meeting between both parties at the AFREXIM Annual Meeting in Nassau, The Bahamas, in June 2024.
Dangote expressed satisfaction with the progress of his company’s gas pipeline project in Bayelsa, commending the state government for its unwavering support and cooperation.
Describing Bayelsa as richly endowed with natural resources, he assured that his company would partner with the state to create jobs and train the youth.
“My decision to invest here is to show the world that Bayelsa is safe for business, Dangote said,When we met in Lagos, I promised to visit, and today I’m here to ensure that we build a strong partnership to generate employment and provide skills for young people.
There’s no reason to complain about poverty when this state is so richly blessed. The future of our group is focused on oil and gas. If we don’t lead the way, no foreign investor will. Our duty extends beyond our operations—we must also encourage others to invest. That’s why I want to partner with Bayelsa to help remove the fear of insecurity.
We’ve had excellent cooperation from your officials on the Iseni project. It’s clear your leadership style is producing results. I thank you and your team for ensuring our project proceeds smoothly.”
Speaking on the state’s economic prospects, Dangote noted that the development of the Agge Deep Seaport and the gas sector would significantly boost prosperity in Bayelsa.
I’m pleased you mentioned the deep seaport. If you can combine that with gas development, Bayelsa could become the most prosperous state in the country.
For rice cultivation, we’ll collaborate and bring in high-grade seeds. Our laboratories will test the soil to determine the right fertiliser.
Regarding the infrastructure tax credit, you’re correct, But you’ll need to engage the President,Our company currently has over one trillion naira worth of infrastructure tax credit,It enables us to build roads in record time It’s a worthwhile initiative.
Earlier, governor Douye Diri praised Dangote for honouring his promise to visit the state, describing him as a man of integrity and a forthright businessman.
