Emmanuel OchayiAt the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, Aliko Dangote, Nigeria’s renowned business tycoon, expressed frustration over the arduous travel procedures stifling movement across the African continent.
Dangote, a vocal advocate for intra-African trade and investment, highlighted the significant hurdles posed by stringent visa requirements.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelDangote revealed that the cumbersome visa regulations force him to obtain 35 visas on his Nigerian passport merely to navigate within Africa. In his candid address, he lamented the impracticality of dedicating substantial time to visit various embassies for visa applications, citing it as a formidable challenge hindering business activities.
“I still complained to President Kagame. I told him that, as an investor, I have to now apply for 35 different visas on my passport, and I told Mr. President, I really don’t have the time to go and drop my passports in embassies to get a visa,” Dangote remarked.
The disparity in visa requirements between African and non-African nationals further exacerbated Dangote’s concerns. He pointed out that while he faces the cumbersome process of acquiring 35 visas, counterparts like Patrick Pouyanne, the chairman of Total Energies, enjoy the privilege of easier access with their French passports.
“You don’t need 35 visas on your French passport. This means you have freer movement than myself in Africa,” Dangote emphasized, underscoring the inequality in travel regulations within the continent.
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Dangote’s remarks underscored broader challenges hindering intra-African trade and economic integration. He called for enhanced collaboration among African nations, emphasizing the imperative for self-reliance in driving the continent’s development agenda.
“Our main job is to make sure the regional markets all work. Once they work, then we can now go to the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. But then, for AfCFTA also, we need to make sure that it works,” Dangote asserted, emphasizing the pivotal role of regional cooperation in harnessing Africa’s economic potential.
Furthermore, Dangote reiterated his commitment to bolstering Nigeria’s energy independence. He announced that with the imminent commencement of operations at the Dangote refinery, Nigeria would no longer need to import petrol by June, signaling a significant milestone in the nation’s quest for self-sufficiency.
“Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of litre,” Dangote affirmed, heralding a new era of energy autonomy for the country.
Moreover, Dangote’s poignant remarks at the Africa CEO Forum underscored the pressing need for streamlined travel policies to facilitate intra-African trade and investment. As Africa strives for economic integration and self-reliance, addressing barriers to movement within the continent is paramount to unlocking its full potential.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
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