Abubakar Hashim
The biggest mistake of virtually all African governments is the non-promotion of local content in economic development.
The case of Alhaji Aliko Dangote about his multi-billion dollar investment in an oil refinery in Lagos is a classical case.
The other sad case is that of Chief Tony Chinyere, who has a wide range of investments in Sierra Leone, Liberia and other West African countries.
Chinyere’s case is more heartbreaking than Dangote’s. From his West Africa oil refinery at Kissy in Freetown to his hovercraft that used to shuttle from the city to Lungi airport, to his fish harbour at Jui and others, all are today, grounded, due to political machinations.
If Africa will grow economically the private sector must be encouraged maximally.
The duo of Aliko Dangote and Tony Chinyere bear similar characteristics- both are unperturbed and utterly resolved to fight back.
Dangote has already commenced diesel and aviation fuels, with petrol in August, despite severe bureaucratic challenges.
Chinyere is upbeat to win back legally all his businesses that were illegally possessed under dubious circumstances, with existential evidence at his disposal.
Chinyere’s investments in Liberia which were thwarted by former President George Weah, are being regained, through proper adjudication by the president government of Boakai.
Politicians should stop meddling in private operators of valuable investments in Africa that can grow economically.
In advanced democracies, private investments grow irrespective of political power and the government of the day.
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