Business magnate, Aliko Dangote is currently a subject of discussion on social media, as the Federal Government is reportedly considering banning the importation of milk.
The controversy: The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele was quoted to have said the Federal Government would soon put restrictions on the importation of milk, and other dairy products in the country.
Emefiele reportedly made this known on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, while addressing newsmen after the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Abuja.
[READ MORE: Aliko Dangote is the only African among the world’s 100 richest people]
While lamenting that the importation of milk stood between $1.2 billion dollars and $1.5 billion dollars annually, Emefiele said that he was convinced that milk was one of the products that could be produced in this country, hence there would not be a need for importation.
The CBN later denied the claim and said it has no legal power to carry out such an act. The apex bank’s denial, however, came after Emefiele’s disclosure.
Dangote’s involvement: Dangote had reportedly disclosed his plans to invest $800 million in dairy production in Nigeria. According to the report, the plan is part of Dangote’s diversification plans into the Nigerian agricultural sector.
[READ ALSO: Dangote gets African leaders’ support on health sector plan]
What Nigerians are saying: Since the news of the alleged restriction surfaced on the internet, Nigerians have taken to the social media to air their views, tagging the business magnate as an economic saboteur.
Below are the reactions from Nigerians.
Dangote is the biggest economic saboteur the world has ever known. But guess what? He didn’t create himself. Every Nigerian leader since 1999 including Governors enabled him. In serious countries, Antitrust laws would have sent him either to jail or out of business with fines.
— Mazi (@matthewamad) July 29, 2019
#Nigeria government has made Dangote to look as if he is the only businessman that knows how to do business, also with the best ideas in the country.
Govt / CBN are planning to ban milk, same week Dangote deviates into diary farming. That’s not a coincidence.#KenyanVsNigeria pic.twitter.com/9vmtBrzOfR
— Ayemojuba ??? (@ayemojubar) July 28, 2019
– I’m just gonna throw Aliko Dangote in the mix for some slaps. His underhanded technique is more economically damaging than good. Having the power and resources to manipulate a dead society doesn’t mean you have to. You need to be competitive than kill the competition.??♂️??
— Ferdinand. (@Burmese__Tyga) July 28, 2019
Look at me here thinking this CBN forex ban on milk imports did not make any sense right now when all I needed to see was this ??
Oligarchy at its finest – the Dangote story pic.twitter.com/mKEZ7jpTx2
— Dr. Anita Mudiaga (@fav_eyedoctor) July 28, 2019
Dangote’s business entity has single handedly monpolised every economic product. Thanks to the FG now. It’s like all businesses must have to compete against him standing next to the govt. Is that not a suicide mission business-wise? Yar’adua was the one president who tried to block him.
— Tolu Olumide (@olumide_tolu) July 28, 2019
If Dangote starts manufacturing cars today, there will be a “revolution” in the local car manufacturing industry.
Just kidding. The Nigerian Government will just ban car importation, Dangote won’t pay tax, he’d get interest-free loan from CBN. Arewa stays winning.
— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) July 28, 2019
Anytime Dangote wants to delve into any business in Nigeria, the Federal Govt announces a restrictive policy that makes it extremely difficult for other Nigerians in that line of business to operate as they should.
They did it with cement, flour and even tomato paste.— The Papi (@tawah89) July 28, 2019
[READ FURTHER: Aliko Dangote accompanies Buhari to see Trump]