Nigerian billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote has called on wealthy Nigerians to put more of their money into productive businesses instead of spending millions of dollars on private jets.
Dangote, while reflecting on his business journey, said he got his first private jet when he was 22 and a half. He added that he is now comfortable using commercial flights and other options.
“In my career as a businessman, I had great times. I was telling somebody that right now, I don’t mind. I can take commercial, I can take anything. I had my first private jet at 22 years and a half,” he said.
He urged Nigerians who own aircraft worth $90 million or $100 million to invest the money in businesses that can help the country grow.
“So I try as much as possible to encourage people who are riding 90, 100 million dollars aircraft, please go and put that into business. We are not going to create a great nation without doing something productive,” he said.
Dangote also recalled spending 30 minutes searching for a parking space in Abuja. The experience made him wish the area was filled with factories instead of private jets.
“It took me 30 minutes to find a parking space in Abuja. It was Wednesday or Thursday. And I said, ‘Oh, I wish this place was full of factories, not private jets.’”
