Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group, called for Nigeria to halt health tourism and invest in local pharmaceutical production during a panel at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event in Lagos.
Dangote, whose $100 million partnership with the Gates Foundation since 2016 reduced malnutrition in 11 million Northern children, argued that Nigeria’s $1 billion annual health tourism expenditure—80% by elites seeking treatment abroad—drains the $500 billion economy. He proposed a $2 billion pharmaceutical hub in Kano, leveraging his $19 billion refinery’s 90% local fuel output to produce 70% of Nigeria’s drugs by 2030, creating 500,000 jobs.
Dangote cited India’s 80% generic drug self-sufficiency, noting Nigeria’s 30% local production meets only 20% of demand, with 1,000 unregistered drugs flooding markets. His $1.2 billion Dangote Foundation equipped 100 hospitals in 2024, but 60% of Nigerians lack access to quality care, per 2023 WHO data. He urged partnerships with Gates’ $2.8 billion Nigerian health fund to train 5,000 pharmacists and build 200 API plants, reducing 50% import costs.
Critics, with 55% in polls, argue Dangote’s 70% cement market dominance risks monopolizing drugs, while supporters, including Lagos Governor Sanwo-Olu, back his 10% health GDP target. Health tourism, costing 100,000 patients annually, fuels 34% inflation, but 1,500 uncompleted health facilities and 20% doctor emigration challenge progress. Dangote’s plan, backed by $500 million in 2025 federal incentives, could save ₦500 billion yearly, but 40% regulatory gaps demand reform.