“I Don’t Have Any House Abroad, I Only Drive Myself Around ” -Dangote Reveals.

Nigerian billionaire businessman and richest man in Africa,
Aliko Dangote, says his refinery which is under construction will be completed in the last quarter of 2017.
In a new interview with Bloomberg , the chief executive officer of Dangote Group shared his business ideals and the next step for his business empire … with a little bit about his lifestyle .
The businessman touched on these 10 key topics .
REFINERY IN 2017
Dangote says his refinery , which would refine 650 , 000 barrels a day , would be among the largest in the world .
“ We didn ’ t really realize that we were going to need almost 70 million cubic meters of sand . But we are catching up , and I ’ m sure we ’ll be able to deliver it by the last quarter of 2017.
“ We have actually never failed in delivering any project . We always deliver our projects on time and at cost . If we hadn ’t delivered our projects on time , that would be something. We will definitely deliver , by the grace of God .”
LIFETIME PROJECT
To Dangote , the refinery is his lifetime project and he is backing it up with his own life to make sure it is delivered .
“ We are using our own money . This is my lifetime project . I have to back it up with my own life to make sure it is delivered. I know that , yes , it ’s true, a lot of people have tried to deliver on refineries in the past , mostly governments. They couldn ’t. ”
HE DOESN ’ T DO SMALL THINGS
By 2025 , Dangote says he would have investments worth $50 billion in the US and Europe .
“ Beginning in 2020 , 60 % of our future investments will be outside Africa , so we can have a balance. We are looking at petrochemicals but can also invest in other companies.
“ Let ’ s say that by 2025 , I ’ m looking at between $ 20 billion and $ 50 billion. Mind you , we don ’t do small things .”
LEARNT FROM THE MEN WHO BUILT AMERICA
“ I never worry about being too bold . In business it ’ s good to be aggressive , but with a human face .
“ I thought at first I was really aggressive until I watched this show, The Men Who Built America . I realized that actually they were much bolder than us . Someone like Vanderbilt , he built 50 ,000 miles of rail! That is a very bold move . That ’ s why anything we do , we don ’ t do it small . If there ’ s any human being who has done this equally , I am equal to the task to do the same . I actually have a sign on my desk that says , ‘ Nothing is impossible ’. ”
NO INTEREST IN TELECOMS

Aliko Dangote says he has no interest in the telecoms industry, his reason being that he is late to the party .

“ When I look at telecom , for instance , I think that would be very tough for us . We are a little late . Some players have been in this market for 17 years already. There’ s no way you can go and jump over somebody after 17 years of their hard work. So I think we would pass when it comes to telecom today.”
HE WISHES HE INVESTED IN TECHNOLOGY
Dangote says he ’d have loved to invest in tech , especially because companies in that industry get bigger valuations than industries like agribusiness .
“ Look at the US, the way the tech companies are getting massive . And it ’ s still nothing compared to the GEs, yet those don ’t get that kind of valuation. I wish that we’ d entered tech , but our concentration has always been in Africa .”
ARSENAL ON THE WISH -LIST
Another thing on the wish - list of the 60 - year- old businessman is to buy Arsenal football club .
“ I don ’ t want to go after Arsenal until I deliver the refinery . Once I deliver , I will go after Arsenal .
“ I don ’ t change clubs . Even when Arsenal isn’ t doing well I still stick by them . It ’ s a great team , well- run. It could be run better , so I will be there . I will wait . Even if things change I will take it and make the difference going forward. ”
NOT INTERESTED IN POLITICS
Dangote says he has no desire to go into politics because he loves his freedom too much to lose it.
“ I ’ m not interested . There’ s quite a lot we can do from the business side. I enjoy a lot of what I am doing , and I also love my freedom—and I don ’ t have too much . The little I have , politics would take away. I am not ready to give that up . There are businessmen who are interested in politics . I ’ m not one of them .”
INTEGRITY IS HARD TO COME BY
When asked of the human flaw that frustrates him the most in business , Dangote says it ’ s integrity .
“ In Africa, you normally need to know who you ’ re dealing with . You have to make sure you ’ re dealing with very honest people who have integrity—that ’s why we have so few partnerships . Dangote itself has plenty of headaches to take care of. ”
PREFERS MAKING MONEY TO SPENDING IT
In Dangote’ s words , he doesn ’t like to throw away money and has no home outside Nigeria . He likes a simple and quiet life .
“ I ’ m not a person who just likes to throw away money . I spend more money on charitable things than myself. I actually don ’ t have any home outside Nigeria . I stay in hotels. Quiet . Simple . My life is not very lavish , and I actually get very embarrassed if I try to show that I have money.
“ In Lagos , I drive myself around on weekends. I ask my driver to go rest , and then I drive myself around. I still visit my normal friends I grew up with . My house is open 24 hours a day for them . I mingle with everybody. That’ s the only way to get to know what ’s going on . ”