Billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote has revealed that despite the size of his company and his investments on the continent, he needs 38 visas to travel across Africa.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, billionaire businessman and Africa's richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, advised African leaders to give incentives to investors and make intra-Africa travel easy.
The Nigerian billionaire who owns the Dangote Group, which has interests in commodities, revealed that despite the size of his group and his investments on the continent, he still needs 38 visas to travel across Africa.
Alhaji Dangote who is worth $12.5 billion and is the richest man in Africa, according to Forbes, said adequate steps must be taken to address the issue in order for the continent to have a blossoming economy.
“Our leaders must give incentives. For example, little things like visa issuance. You go to a country that is looking for investment, that particular country will give you a run around just to get a visa.
“You have to know somebody who is big in that country to call somebody. They are giving you visas as if it is a favour.
“Somebody like me, despite the size of our group, I need 38 visas to move around Africa. Yes, I’ve heard that they are going to do the (African) passport, but you can see that there is still a little bit of resistance from other African leaders.
“Even countries like Rwanda and co, that say no visas for Africans, they are still having problems getting visas into other African countries, despite saying no need for visas for Africans coming in. They say, just come, we would give you on arrival,” he said.
He said intra-Africa trade is still very much on the downside, stating that Nigeria imports flour from Europe, whereas, the flour was exported to Europe from Kenya and Ethiopia.
No comments :
Post a Comment