Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has stated that losing access to his mobile phone is an absolute “no-go area,” humorously remarking that he would prefer spending time in prison over surrendering his primary device.
The industrialist made the lighthearted revelation during an interactive session in Lagos. When asked to choose between going a week without his mobile phone or forfeiting his private jet, Dangote chose to keep his phone without hesitation, emphasizing the vital role continuous communication plays in managing his global business empire.
“It’s easier you put me in prison than to take my phone away. So, you know, taking my phone away is a no-go area,” Dangote stated.
Explaining why the device remains indispensable, the billionaire revealed that his address book contains over 13,000 active contacts accumulated over more than two decades on the same primary phone number.
Asked how his directory reached such scale, Dangote added that he rarely blocks callers, allowing his network of professional and personal contacts to expand continuously.
The exchange underscores the central role direct communication and relational networking play in steering the Dangote Group’s extensive operations across cement, sugar, fertilizer, and petroleum refining.
