Lafarge tried to stop Dangote from succeeding in cement production — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has accused French cement company Lafarge of attempting to frustrate Aliko Dangote’s expansion in cement production across Africa.

Obasanjo made the allegation during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Dangote East Africa Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals SEZ in Lamu County, Kenya, according to Daily Post.

“The people who really didn’t want Aliko to succeed in cement production [were from] a French company called Lafarge, and they put every obstacle in Aliko’s way,” he said.

Obasanjo said Dangote overcame the challenges and expanded his cement operations into other African countries, including Senegal.

The former president used Dangote’s experience to highlight obstacles African entrepreneurs face while attempting to expand major industrial ventures across the continent.

The ceremony also marked the launch of Dangote’s planned $16 billion Kenya refinery, expected to process 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily when completed, significantly expanding the group’s energy operations in East Africa and strengthening regional refining capacity.