Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has penned a heartfelt letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commending his “visionary leadership” in transforming flood-prone coastal areas into thriving economic zones through the Bar Beach Land Reclamation initiative.
In the letter, Dangote expressed profound gratitude for President Tinubu’s foresight, which gave rise to the Eko Atlantic City project, describing it as a “defining skyline” and a catalyst for “direct investment and socioeconomic growth” since its inception in 2008.
“The coastline that was once prone to incessant floods has been transformed into an emerging new district,” Dangote wrote.
“Your Excellency, I would like to express my deep appreciation to you for your farsightedness on the Bar Beach Land Reclamation project in Victoria Island, Lagos State.”
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Referencing recent tragic flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, United States, where over 100 lives were lost, Dangote contrasted the devastation abroad with Tinubu’s preventive infrastructure back home. He praised the Eko Atlantic City development—spanning 1,000 hectares and protected by an 8.5-kilometre sea wall—as a beacon of environmental resilience and innovation.
“This modern city now serves residential, business and recreational purposes and has significantly safeguarded areas such as Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Bishop Oluwole Street, Amodu Ojikutu Street, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, and Karimu Kotun Street from coastal erosion and flooding,” he added.
Dangote further lauded President Tinubu’s efforts in launching two major highway projects: the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway. He noted that both projects, handled by Hitech Construction Company Limited, enrich Nigeria’s infrastructure and link the country’s six geo-political zones, with the latter reviving a long-abandoned 48-year-old plan.
Drawing a comparison with Dutch land reclamation practices in Zeeland, Netherlands, Dangote likened the Bar Beach transformation to the Netherlands’ successful battle against water and land loss, calling the Nigerian initiative “a testament to leadership, ingenuity and perseverance.”
In a show of corporate responsibility, Dangote also announced that the Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon unveil plans to contribute to a Climate Fund targeting communities most vulnerable to flash floods and rising sea levels.
“As we commiserate with the families of those who died in the Texas flooding incident, we are also grateful for your compassionate and visionary leadership,” Dangote stated, adding that the president’s consistent support has enabled a more prosperous Nigeria.
Concluding the letter with a prayer, he wrote, “I pray that the Almighty Allah (SWT) continues to increase your wisdom, burnish your vision, and inspire you to greater heights of success for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
