Aliko Dangote has publicly expressed deep gratitude to the Ooni of Ife, recounting an extraordinary intervention that made the construction of his refinery possible. Speaking at an event, Dangote revealed that the proposed site contained more than 19 shrines, a situation that had stalled all progress as no one dared to approach or alter the sacred location. According to him, it was only after the Ooni personally visited the site that the long-standing barrier was broken.

Dangote described how the monarch assessed the location, stood firmly before the shrines, and commanded their removal, declaring, “Let the gods come and talk to me.” This decisive action, Dangote said, cleared the path for development and ended months of fear and hesitation from workers and local stakeholders.

He credited the Ooni’s bold intervention as the pivotal moment that allowed the refinery project to move forward, emphasizing that without it, the landmark industrial venture may never have materialized. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news details and follow us on all our social media platforms.