Africa’s richest man and Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has warned that Nigerians may be forced to return to COVID-19-era work-from-home measures if the ongoing Middle East crisis continues to push up global oil prices.
Dangote made the remarks after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, expressing deep concern over the ripple effects of oil price volatility on Africa’s already debt-burdened economies.
“If this situation does not de-escalate, Africa’s fragile economies could face serious strain,” Dangote said, noting that many citizens live hand-to-mouth and depend on daily income to survive. “Some people, if they don’t work that day, they won’t eat,” he added.
Drawing comparisons with global responses, Dangote cited countries like Indonesia, where authorities have introduced reduced workweeks and remote work policies to cushion economic pressure. He warned that similar measures could become necessary in Nigeria if the crisis persists.
“In some countries, people are already being asked to work from home because the cost of operations is too high. If things don’t improve, we may return to a situation similar to the COVID period,” he explained.
Dangote emphasized that small and medium-scale business owners would bear the brunt of the crisis, particularly those reliant on fuel-powered operations such as barbers, bakers, and small manufacturers who depend on generators to run their businesses.
He concluded by calling for urgent global efforts to resolve the conflict, urging both leaders and citizens to support peace initiatives. “We need all hands on deck and prayers for this crisis to come to an end,” he said.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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