Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has urged wealthy Nigerians to invest their fortunes in businesses that create jobs and drive economic growth rather than spend millions of dollars on luxury items such as private jets.
Dangote made the call while reflecting on his business journey, revealing that he bought his first private jet at the age of 22.
The billionaire said that although he once enjoyed the luxury of private air travel, he has now reached a point where he is comfortable flying commercially.
“In my career as a businessman, I had great times. I was telling somebody that right now, I don’t mind. I can take commercial; I can take anything. I had my first private jet at 22 years and a half,” he said.
Dangote said his concern was not about wealthy people enjoying their money, but about the economic value that could be created if some of the huge sums spent on luxury were instead invested in productive ventures.
He specifically appealed to Nigerians who can afford aircraft costing between $90 million and $100 million to consider investing such amounts in businesses that can employ people and stimulate economic activity.
“So, I try as much as possible to encourage people who are riding 90, 100 million dollars aircraft, please go and put that into business. We are not going to create a great nation without doing something productive,” he said.
He recalled an experience in Abuja when he spent about 30 minutes looking for a parking space and later noticed the number of private jets in the area.
The sight, he said, made him wish the space had instead been occupied by factories producing goods and creating jobs.
“It took me 30 minutes to find a parking space in Abuja. It was Wednesday or Thursday. And I said, ‘Oh, I wish this place was full of factories, not private jets,’” he recalled.
Dangote said Nigeria’s economic future depends on greater investment in production and industrialisation rather than excessive consumption.
His comments come as his business empire continues to invest heavily in large-scale industrial projects, including the Dangote Refinery.
I Had My First Private Jet at 22, But Now I Can Even Fly Commercial. I had to spend 30 minutes to get a parking space at Abuja airport because of the number of private jets at the airport and I wish they were factories
— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) September 14, 2026
~ Billionaire Aliko Dangote says pic.twitter.com/0cByohNxPY
