‘I’d Rather Go To Prison Than Lose My Phone’ — Dangote

Billionaire Reveals He Has More Than 13,000 Contacts While Unveiling Vision 2030 Plan In Lagos

By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

Africa’s richest industrialists, Aliko Dangote, has said he would rather go to prison than surrender his mobile phone, highlighting how important the device is to his daily communication. Dangote made the remark in Lagos while presenting his “Vision 2030” plan, which focuses on accelerating industrialisation across Africa.

He was asked to choose between spending seven days without his phone and losing access to his private jet for the same period.

Responding, the Dangote Group president said losing access to his phone would be particularly difficult because of his dependence on it to stay connected with people. “I think it’s easier you put me in prison than to take my phone away,” he said, describing the prospect of losing access to the device as a “no-go area.”

His response drew attention to the central role mobile phones play in managing communication and professional relationships, even for high-profile business leaders.

Dangote also revealed that his phone contains more than 13,000 contacts, accumulated through relationships and connections built over the years. Asked how his contact list had grown so large, he explained that he rarely blocks people because he does not like doing so.

Dangote heads the Dangote Group, a major African conglomerate with interests in cement, fertiliser, manufacturing and petroleum refining, including its large-scale refinery project in Nigeria.