Dangote urges African countries to give Nigerians visa on arrival to boost trade

Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote has urged African countries to give visa on entry for Nigerians and citizens of other African countries in order to boost trade and business on the continent.

The Dangote Group CEO, who spoke at the 30th Afreximbank Annual Meetings held in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday, June 18 stated that if the continent was committed to boosting inter- and intra-African trade and investment opportunities, they should support visa on arrival.

“I think what, maybe, African countries need to do is that, why don’t you give Africans visas on arrival that will facilitate trade?” he suggested, sharing a scenario where one has to get a visa to get into “country A” as an African.

Recounting an experience he faces personally, the businessman decried a situation where “we go with a British guy or maybe a Nigerian holding a British passport (and) he is allowed in”.

“We were arguing, debating about my visa and I am the one with the money. If you are making life difficult for me, there is no way I will go and invest,” he added.

Also present at the event were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, and former industry, trade and investment minister Niyi Adebayo.