By Ayomide Otitoju
President and Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has called on the Federal Government to urgently convene a national retreat to address Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis, warning that unstable power supply threatens the country’s industrialisation drive and economic growth.
Dangote made the appeal on Tuesday at the national launch of the National Industrial Policy 2025 in Abuja, themed “From Policy to Productivity: Implementing Nigeria’s Industrial Future.” The event was attended by senior government officials, industry leaders, and development partners, with President Bola Tinubu represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In his remarks, Dangote stressed that stable electricity is fundamental to job creation and industrial productivity.
“Without power, there is no way any country can create growth or jobs. Power means growth. No power, no growth. We must tackle this issue,” he said, urging the government to organise a one- or two-day national forum to resolve sector bottlenecks.
While commending the government’s industrial policies and investment incentives, Dangote noted that infrastructure deficits — particularly in electricity — remain the most critical constraint to manufacturing. He argued that policy incentives alone would not deliver results without strong protection for domestic industries and improved infrastructure.
He warned that excessive importation continues to undermine local production. “Importation of anything is importation of poverty and exportation of jobs,” he stated, adding that industries cannot thrive without adequate safeguards.
The billionaire industrialist lamented that many manufacturers now spend more on self-generated power than on actual production due to erratic supply, describing the situation as unsustainable.
Dangote’s comments followed a recent five-day nationwide power disruption linked to gas maintenance activities, which affected multiple power plants and triggered widespread blackouts, raising fresh concerns among businesses.
He further highlighted the dominant role of the private sector in Nigeria’s economy, noting that it contributes nearly 90 percent of GDP. He called for stronger collaboration between government and businesses, urging entrepreneurs to support national development through tax compliance and regulatory adherence.
Dangote also expressed optimism about recent economic reforms, saying currency stability and improved policies are gradually restoring investor confidence. He reiterated that reducing import dependence and strengthening local manufacturing would further boost the naira and drive sustainable economic growth.
