- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian billionaire businessman, Aliko Dangote, has allayed concern over moves to halt the refinery construction in Kenya as he expressed readiness to tackle legal actions against the project.
This is coming under the heels of criticism from environmental campaigners and conservationists, who fear that the $16 billion worth of East African oil refinery could affect the nearby Lamu Old Town, a World Heritage site that hosts fragile marine ecosystems.
The campaigners had reportedly taken legal action with a Kenya’s High Court ordered the preservation of parts of the project site pending a hearing in the case brought by local residents, which could affect work on the refinery.
Speaking on the development during his address to stakeholders in Lamu Old Town at the project’s flag off ceremony, Dangote held that he had face similar challenge in past projects.
The Africa’s richest man declared that the Dangote Group is not scared of litigation.
‘We have actually travelled that road before. We know it will not be easy. There will be challenges and you must have seen one yesterday.
‘But like what I said, we are not scared about people taking us to court. Anybody who wants to cause trouble, we are ready for his trouble, and we will give him headache.’ He said.
Reacting to concerns over the possibility of completing such huge project, Dangote held that nothing transformative can be built out of fear.
He expressed optimism about the project as he prayed for it to be bond that strengthens all Africans and also inspire other entrepreneurs.
‘There are people who say again that the ambition is too large, but we also know something else, nothing transformative is ever built by people who are frightened by the size of the challenge.
‘Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, today we break the ground. B
‘But more importantly, we raise our expectation of what Africa can become. May this project become an olive branch of peace to us all Africans. May it demonstrate that together as one, we stand to gain more.
‘May it strengthen and unify our nation while creating opportunities for our people. May it inspire fellow African entrepreneurs to dream and behold.
‘And may it stand for generations to come as another monument to African enterprise.’ He added.
