Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote has revealed his business paid $100 million to the Lagos State Government for the land where his business is situated.

Dangote, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dangote Group also denied rife allegations he is a company is monopolizing several sectors of the Nigerian economy.

He spoke on Saturday, July 22 after the leadership of the House of Representatives visited and toured the refinery located at the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

Reps Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, had led a delegation from the House, which included Hon Ikenga Ugochinyere, to the Dangote Industries.

According to Dangote, his group of companies had never stopped anyone from doing the same business that they are doing.

“If you look at all our operations at Dangote (Group), we add value; we take local raw materials and turn them into products, and we sell,” he said.

“We have never consciously or unconsciously stopped anybody from doing the same business that we are doing.

“When we first came into cement production, it was only Lafarge that was operating here in Nigeria…Nobody ever called Lafarge a monopoly.

“Monopoly is when you stop people, you block them through legal means. No, it is a level playing field whereby whatever Dangote was given in cement, for example, other people were given because some of them even got more than us.”

He stated that his refinery did not enjoy any incentive from the Federal Government.

“In the refinery, we did not, and I repeat, we did not collect one single incentive from the Federal Government of Nigeria or even Lagos State. Yes, the Lagos State gave us a good deal but we paid $100m for the land. It wasn’t free land; we paid for it.

“Majority of the population are with us. So, we are not discouraged, we will continue what we are doing.”

The news has generated mixed reactions. See a few below:

_temitopefabiyi wrote: For Dangote to speak up this much, the government has frustrated him.

dichukwu commented: Oga, if u claim u have not been running business based on monopoly & using legal means to suppress others, oya tell us your case against or with Ibeto Cement? In addition, explain how only a few of you are running the sugar business in Nigeria. Let us hear from your side cos the way Ibeto was muscled out through the instrument of the government wouldn't exonerate u from the monopoly accusations.

souljaboi001 said: It was never a secret, he spoke about it at the Lagos - Kano Economic & Investment Summit a couple of years ago. Some of the money was used for land reclamation etc.

tundeevra commented: Dangote go join the protest as things de go now

ayayo_14 wrote: Watin they make dangote complain and think so fit kill me and you

boarderoad said: Someone probably allocated that land to himself and took the money as land purchase

mykehoneyland commented: "Lagos State government ehhh there's a reason they'll never allow another party win the state men wen go enter prison go surplus"