Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, is facing mounting criticism from Nigerians questioning the fairness of his business empire.

With a total of 15,200 tweets at the time of this report, Dangote Group’s leader has come under public scrutiny for the reported disparities in the prices of his cement products across Africa.

According to X (formerly Twitter) discussions, there are claims that the billionaire offers cement to other African nations at a more reasonable cost.

A user on the X platform, Nefertiti, pointed out that despite Dangote Cement’s production in Nigeria, it fails to offer the product at an affordable rate, prompting contractors to resort to importing it.

“Dangote Cement is more expensive than imported cement, & you have all the raw materials in Nigeria. Contractors prefer imported cement, but cement import is banned in Nigeria. You must use Dangote by force. This is for those waiting to buy cheap petrol from the Dangote Refinery.”
Dangote Cement is more expensive than imported cement, & you have all the raw materials in Nigeria. Contractors prefer imported cement, but cement import is banned in Nigeria. You must use Dangote by force. This is for those waiting to buy cheap petrol from the Dangote Refinery.

Another user, Abdullahayofel, emphasized that the cement company enjoys access to raw materials at minimal costs, giving it a competitive edge.

“Dangote cement is produced in Nigeria, The raw material is sourced locally in Nigeria at almost zero cost. Nothing is imported. Almost zero taxes yet the price of cement is 5,200 Naira in Nigeria and the same is sold in the Benin Republic at 3,699.15 Naira.
Dangote cement is produced in Nigeria, The raw material is sourced locally in Nigeria at almost zero cost. Nothing is imported.

Almost zero taxes yet the price of cement is 5,200 Naira in Nigeria and same is sold in Benin Republic at 3,699.15 Naira.

— A. Ayofe (@abdullahayofel) August 25, 2023

Kelvin Odanz added his voice, supporting the notion that contractors prefer imports due to the high local prices of the billionaire’s cement company.
Apparently cement imported from abroad is cheaper than the one our sugar daddy and his clique produces in Nigeria. Contractors prefer importing it This is for those of you who think our sugar daddy’s refinery will help bring down the cost of fuel when finally completed. LOL for you”
Apparently cement imported from abroad is cheaper than the one our sugar daddy and his clique produces in Nigeria. Contractors prefer importing it

This is for those of you who think our sugar daddy's refinery will help bring down cost of fuel when finally completed. LOL for you

— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) August 25, 2023

Captain Tango stated that Dangote relies on government support to drive the success of his business.

“Dangote is not the smartest politician, what he enjoys is government patronage thereby granting him crazy tax breaks and monopoly over the market. If INNOSON Motors or other businessmen have the same privileges he enjoys it will be good for all or throw the cement market open.
Dangote is not the smartest politician, what he enjoys is the government patronage thereby granting him crazy tax breaks and monopoly over the market.

If INNOSON motors or other business men have the same privileges he enjoys it will be good for all or throw throw the cement…

— Captain Tango 👨🏾‍✈️⚓️ (@Capolutiti) August 25, 2023

A user, Priste added that the lack of a level playing field in the country has resulted in cement market monopolization

“The issue is basically the lack of a level playing ground. Using the government to stifle other competitors is what has gotten us to this level of monopoly. This same dangote cement is cheaper in other West African countries.”
The issue is basically the lack of a level playing ground. Using the government to stifle other competitors is what has gotten us to this level of monopoly.

This same dangote cement is cheaper in other west African countries.

— G E (@priste_) August 25, 2023

https://nairametrics.com/2023/08/26/nigerians-lash-out-at-aliko-dangote-over-reported-exorbitant-cement-price/

Thissse man

Dangote is a clueless monopolistic Nigeria politician and businessman too

shortgun:
Remove biased grants,
tax waivers,
monopoly,
Oligopoly
Legal monopoly
and favourable Government policies from Dangote and watch the man become bankrupt in 1 year.

very true oooo

I pity Nigerians waiting for dangote refinery lmao

Life!

Dangote is one of our major problem in Nigeria.
Can we just allow market to ship in cement? Dangote is holding us to ransom, he dictates the price of cement and others follow his dictate.

Somebody made this revelation here on Nairaland last year and Yoruba people almost ate him raw saying that the poster is just an Igbo hating on a northerner

Yoruba are the problem with Nigeria-Sanusi Lamido

9jahotblog:
Dangote is a clueless monopolistic Nigeria politician and businessman too

he is not a devil but a lucky and greedy man.

Nigeria needed local production badly under OBJ. That local production had to be in the hands of a Nigerian who has no other home to repatriate profit to thereby bleeding the economy. Dangote and few others were selected for this privilege but Dangote emerged the most successful among them all.

Though a greedy artificial billionaire, he is better than most foreign investors.

clearcrystal:
Dangote is one of our major problem in Nigeria.
Can we just allow market to ship in cement? Dangote is holding us to ransom, he dictates the price of cement and others follow his dictate.

he was selected to have a rare privilege under OBJ but has become a monopoly monster and is threatening to milk Nigerians badly.

CodeTemplar:
he is not a devil but a lucky and greedy man.

Nigeria needed local production badly under OBJ. That local production had to be in the hands of a Nigerian who has no other home to repatriate profit to thereby bleeding the economy. Dangote and few others were selected for this privilege but Dangote emerged the most successful among them all.

Though a greedy artificial billionaire, he is better than most foreign investors.

funny enough, his brother counterpart, BUA cement Founder is beating Dangote flawlessly in business. By 2024, BUA refinery will be completed and be open to used . Dangote will be the one to lose out at the end of the day cos’ of businessmen have surfaced heavily and also beating him in business in Nigeria.

Dangote is one of Nigeria’s major problems, I have stated it on this forum years ago.

The moment he announced his refinery i told y’all prices of fuel and related products would skyrocket before that refinery is finished.

Y’all haven’t seen anything before his refinery is finished, the stage would be set for him to recoup his investment faster than Uncle Abacha looted Nigeria

shortgun:
Remove biased grants,
tax waivers,
monopoly,
Oligopoly
Legal monopoly
and favourable Government policies from Dangote and watch the man become bankrupt in 1 year.

Wisereborn:
Why is everyone talking about Dangote and not the Nigerian government that gave him the monopoly

Is Dangote the only Nigerian born with business acumen

If there is healthy competition as of the days of old who is Dangote who go know him papa

Wittyness

The production cost of a bag of cement is less than 500 naira according to someone who once had his IT at BUA cement. I still wonder why the price is so exorbitant

Bfly:
The production cost of a bag of cement is less than 500 naira according to someone who once had his IT at BUA cement. I still wonder why the price is so exorbitant

This could be through, 80% of the raw materials are sourced locally.