Dangote Denies Rift with Elumelu, Rejects Refinery Funding Claims

Abuja, Nigeria – The Dangote Group has issued a strong rebuttal against what it terms “false, malicious, and baseless” publications alleging a rift between its president, Aliko Dangote, and fellow business magnate Tony Elumelu. The company categorically denied claims that the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Refinery was financed through personal borrowing from friends, including Elumelu.

In a statement released by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote Group clarified that its president has never made statements suggesting any form of estrangement or disagreement with Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings. The Group emphasized that both businessmen maintain a longstanding and cordial relationship. Furthermore, the statement firmly rejected the notion that the refinery's development relied on personal loans from friends, describing such reports as inaccurate and a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.

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The Group categorically rejects claims that the development of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals was financed through personal borrowing from friends.

Beyond refuting financial and relational claims, Dangote Group also raised serious concerns about the increasing trend of fabricated statements and the unauthorized use of Aliko Dangote's name, likeness, and image in AI-generated advertisements and other misleading content. The company warned that such actions constitute reputational damage and potential fraud, and it has put all involved parties on notice to cease immediately. Dangote Group reiterated its commitment to integrity and its ongoing efforts to drive industrialization and economic self-sufficiency across Africa, vowing to take necessary legal steps to protect its reputation.

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All individuals, organisations, and platforms involved in the creation, publication, or dissemination of such false content are hereby put on notice to desist immediately.