Africa’s richest man and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has attributed the successful construction of his multi-billion-dollar refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, to a decisive intervention by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
Speaking in a now-viral video shared on Friday, the billionaire industrialist revealed that the project initially faced a major setback due to the presence of numerous traditional shrines at the construction site.
According to Dangote, workers were unable to commence operations because of the spiritual sensitivity surrounding the land.
“When we got there, there were over 19 shrines at the site. Nobody was able to go near there to do anything,” he recounted.
Dangote explained that the Ooni of Ife was then invited to intervene. In what he described as an extraordinary display of courage and leadership, Oba Ogunwusi personally visited the site and ordered that all 19 shrines be removed so work could begin.
The industrialist quoted the monarch as saying: “Remove all of them. Let the gods come and talk to me.”
Dangote praised the Ooni for taking responsibility at a critical moment that could have stalled one of Africa’s biggest private-sector investments.
“I must recognise and thank the Ooni of Ife for enabling the building of our factory. Without that singular act of yours, I don’t think we would have been able to build the refinery,” he said.
The Dangote Refinery, located on more than 7,000 acres in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, is designed to process up to 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day, making it one of the largest single-train refineries in the world.
The Ooni’s intervention, Dangote noted, helped avert delays that would have affected the project’s timeline and Nigeria’s long-term plans to reduce dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
The revelation has generated widespread reactions, with many Nigerians praising the monarch for supporting national development, while others highlighted the cultural depth and complexities involved in industrial expansion across indigenous communities.
Dangote’s remarks underscore the crucial role of traditional institutions in modern development, especially in regions where cultural heritage intersects with major infrastructure projects.
The Ooni of Ife, widely regarded as a custodian of Yoruba civilization, continues to be recognized for his influence in fostering unity, progress, and economic advancement.