Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, has voiced his frustration over the travel difficulties he encounters with his Nigerian passport.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Dangote revealed that he needs to apply for 35 different visas to travel across the continent.
“I still complained to President Kagame,” Dangote said. “I told him that as an investor, I have to now apply for 35 different visas on my passport, and I told Mr. President, I really don’t have the time to go and be dropping my passports in embassies to get a visa.”
Dangote highlighted the disparity in travel requirements for African passport holders compared to their counterparts from other continents.
Using the French passport as an example, he noted that Patrick Pouyanne, chairman of Total Energies, does not need 35 visas to travel within Africa.
“You don’t need 35 visas on your French passport. This means you have a freer movement than myself in Africa,” he said.
Addressing broader issues in African business, Dangote emphasized the need to enhance regional markets and the importance of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
He stressed the necessity for African countries to improve intra-continental trade, which currently stands at less than 16 percent.
“Our main job is to make sure the regional markets all work. Once they work, then we can now go to Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). But then, for AfCFTA also, we need to make sure that it works,” Dangote stated.
He called on African leaders and businesses to take the initiative in driving the continent’s development. “We Africans will have to do it. If we are waiting for foreigners to come and do it, both the development of Africa, it’s not going to happen,” he said.
“So it can only happen to us Africans. We must risk our sources and make sure that we lead, then we will have people who actually trust and believe in Africa like Patrick to come and help us to push to the next level.”
