Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged Nigerians to end medical tourism and begin local drug production.
He made this call during the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event held in Lagos on Wednesday.
Dangote emphasised the need for all Nigerians, including the wealthy, to access quality healthcare within the country. He suggested that partnership with Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation would be vital in achieving this goal.
“We must stop health tourism and begin producing our own medicines,” Dangote said during a panel discussion. “When we fall ill, we should not have to travel abroad. We all need treatment here, and we should partner with Bill Gates to make it happen.”
Africa’s richest man recalled how collaboration between the Dangote Foundation and the Gates Foundation helped eradicate polio in Nigeria and made significant progress in improving nutrition.
Speaking on business advancements, Dangote noted that his group had transformed several sectors. He pointed out that Nigeria, once the world’s second-largest cement importer, now exports more cement than any other African country.
He also recalled how farmers previously struggled to access fertiliser, but now benefit from one of the world’s largest fertiliser plants, which he built from scratch.
“Nigeria now exports 37% of its fertiliser to the United States,” he said.
In the petroleum sector, Dangote highlighted the launch of the 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery. He revealed that in May 2025 alone, the Dangote Refinery exported 400,000 metric tonnes of petrol.
He added that the refinery has eliminated Nigeria’s reliance on imported petrol, marking a turning point in the country’s energy independence.