- Dangote said Nigeria must act fast to protect vulnerable communities from floods and climate change disasters.
- Eko Atlantic project hailed as one of Tinubu’s most visible climate resilience legacies.
President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has declared his foundation’s readiness to support a climate fund targeted at flood-prone areas in Nigeria.
He made this known in an open letter to the president, Bola Tinubu, describing his administration’s efforts on the Bar Beach land reclamation project in Lagos as a “legacy of foresight”.
The industrialist thanked the president for what he called a “visionary leadership” that turned a flood-ridden coastline into a thriving district.
“Asiwaju of Africa, your foresightedness is even more visible in view of the tragic incident in Kerr County, Texas, USA where over 100 lives have sadly been lost to flash flooding,” he wrote.
He lauded the Eko Atlantic City initiative, describing it as one of the many legacies of the Tinubu presidency.
Dangote noted the president’s commitment to other critical infrastructure projects such as the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway and Sokoto–Badagry superhighway.
He said the government’s approach reminded him of land reclamation works in the Netherlands.
“Indeed, Your Excellency, your inspired move recalls a similar methodology in a land reclamation process in Zeeland, Netherlands, where submerged land was transformed into usable, dry land, primarily for agriculture and settlement,” he wrote.
“This practice, which was applied to combat flooding, is a testament to the Dutch ingenuity and perseverance in managing water resources and creating a habitable landscape in a challenging environment. The same ethos resonates in the Bar Beach project, for which I salute you!”
He commiserated with families of victims of the Texas flood incident, saying the event underscored the urgency of addressing climate risks globally.
Dangote said Nigeria is also no stranger to the devastating impact of floods, citing the loss of lives and property in recent years.
He said the Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon unveil a major climate resilience initiative to support vulnerable communities across Nigeria.
“Our dear nation has also suffered significant losses in lives and property due to rising sea levels and incidents of flash flooding.
“In honour of your vision, the Aliko Dangote Foundation will soon be announcing plans to contribute to a Climate Fund that will target those vulnerable parts of our country which are susceptible to this natural disaster,” he said.
He disclosed that his foundation commits $35 million yearly—about N50 billion—to social causes across Africa.
TIME magazine recently listed Dangote as one of the world’s top 100 philanthropists in 2025, the only Nigerian to make the list.
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