“Taking My Phone Away Is No-Go Area”: Dangote Makes Surprising Revelation
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed just how important his mobile phone is to him, saying he would rather be imprisoned than have the device taken away.
Dangote made the statement in Lagos during the unveiling of his Vision 2030 plan, which seeks to accelerate industrialisation and strengthen Africa’s manufacturing sector.
The billionaire was asked to choose between spending seven days without his mobile phone and losing access to his private jet for the same period.
His answer left little doubt about which possession he considered more difficult to do without, placing his phone above the luxury of private air travel.
“Ah… I think it’s easier you put me in prison than to take my phone away. So, you know, I mean taking my phone away is no-go area, okay?” he said.
Dangote further disclosed that his phone holds more than 13,000 contacts, a figure that reflects the extensive network of people he has connected with throughout his career.
“I know that would be almost… my number — I have that number since… Twitter… I have more than 13,000 contacts on my phone,” the industrialist said.
Asked about the size of his contact list, Dangote explained that he does not readily block people, which has allowed the number of saved contacts to grow over time.
“Wow. Wow. I hardly… I don’t like blocking people, so a lot of people,” he added.
The revelation highlights the importance of mobile communication in Dangote’s personal and professional life, particularly given the scale of his business interests and relationships.
He chairs the Dangote Group, a conglomerate operating across cement, fertiliser, manufacturing and petroleum refining, among other sectors.
His Vision 2030 plan is aimed at accelerating industrial growth across Africa and expanding the continent’s capacity to manufacture goods locally.
