Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu.
The letter reads,
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU GCFR: APPRECIATION
Your Excellency, I would like to express my deep appreciation to you for your visionary leadership and farsightedness on the Bar Beach Land Reclamation project in Victoria Island, Lagos State. Through this project, begun a process which has transformed a coast line that was once prone to incessant floods, to an emerging new district, with a defining skyline and a receptacle for direct investment and socioeconomic growth ever since its conception in 2008.
Asiwaju of Africa, your foresightedness is even more visible in view of the tragic incident in Kerr County, Texas, USA where over 100 lives have sadly been lost to flash flooding. In the case of the Eko Atlantic City project spawned by you, a modern city spanning 1,000 hectares, protected by an 8.5-kilometre-long sea wall, protecting Victoria Island from coastal erosion and giving birth to a dwelling constructed from new land created through sand dredging from the Atlantic Ocean.
Your Excellency, this success story, which is now being used for residential, business, and recreational purposes, is amongst your many legacies, and those of us who live in Victoria Island feel much better off for it. I applaud your exemplary intervention in ending the era of ocean surge and on continuous tackle the issue of perennial flooding affecting areas such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Bishop Oluwole Street, Amodu Ojikutu Street, Adekoitunbo Ademola Street and Karimu Kotun Street, among others.
Mr. President you added another feat by kickstarting the Lagos – Calabar coastal highway and the Sokoto – Badagry superhighway; significantly enriching the country’s stock of infrastructure while improving national cohesion and productivity. You have not only restored investor confidence in Nigeria, but also continue to uplift our national pride and image. You are indeed a source of strength to all Nigerians and a dependable partner in fostering good company culture and making Nigeria safe for capital.
Limited, Your Excellency, your inspired move recalls a similar motion in a land reclamation process in Zeeland, Netherlands, where submerged lands were transformed into productive farmland, infrastructure and agricultural powerhouse. Today, Eko Atlantic stands as a modern symbol of Nigeria’s resilience, innovation and long-term thinking. The infrastructure has not only spurred economic activity but also demonstrated that with visionary leadership and commitment, we can turn adversities into opportunities.
Your foresightedness, I believe, will be a source of consolation to some of the families of those who died in the Texas flood and also an inspiration to affected communities elsewhere, including India and Pakistan which are prone to flash flooding. It is also a reminder that leadership that thinks ahead, plans proactively, and acts decisively can indeed make a real difference.
One clear fact is that Dangote has identified Eko Atlantic as one of the most valuable real estate assets in Nigeria today. The success of this development is a strong signal for more private sector commitment to resolving cases and incidents of flash and ocean floods in other states like Lagos and beyond. Our firm is also building a world-class headquarters on this coast that has become home to these vulnerable problems before your intervention. This is a testimonial to our confidence in your leadership and the project.
Your Excellency, I pray that the Almighty Allah (S.W.T.) would grant you more strength, good health, and wisdom as you continue to chart new heights of success for the benefit of all Nigerians. Thank you very much, Asiwaju!
[Signature]
ALIKO DANGOTE, GCON
Founder/ Chief Exec
