Even My Children Didn’t Attend!’ Dangote Demands Probe Into $5m School Fees Scandal

President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Sunday accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of allegedly spending about $5 million on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking at a press briefing held at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, the billionaire industrialist called for a thorough investigation and a public explanation over the alleged expenditure.

Dangote said Ahmed should appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to explain to Nigerians how such a sum was raised, describing the allegation as an act of economic sabotage if proven true.

He explained that he was merely relaying concerns brought to him, but warned that failure to address the allegation could further erode public confidence and investor trust.

“I have received complaints about a regulator who reportedly sent his children to secondary school abroad. Over a six-year period, the education of four children is said to have cost Nigeria about $5 million. It is difficult to comprehend how anyone could pay such an amount for secondary education,” Dangote said.

He noted that the alleged spending does not align with income earned from public service and would ordinarily attract scrutiny from tax authorities.

“When you compare his income with this level of expenditure, it simply does not add up. Even if I were the one paying $5 million over six years for my children, tax authorities would question my income and tax records,” he stated.

Dangote expressed concern over the contrast between the alleged spending and the financial struggles of ordinary Nigerians.

“In places like Sokoto, people are struggling to pay ₦100,000 in school fees. Many children are out of school because of that amount. It is troubling that someone who has spent his career in public service could allegedly afford $5 million for school fees,” he said.

He added that his own children did not attend secondary schools abroad.

“My children went to secondary school in Nigeria. They did not travel abroad for secondary education,” he said.

Dangote stressed that he was not calling for Ahmed’s removal but for transparency and accountability.

“I am asking for a proper investigation. He should account for how this money was paid and show that he has not abused his office to the detriment of Nigerians. This situation amounts to economic sabotage,” he added.

He said the Code of Conduct Bureau or any appropriate government agency should investigate the matter, warning that if Ahmed denies the allegation, he would publish the tuition fees and pursue legal steps to compel the schools involved to disclose payment records.

Dangote also described the downstream petroleum sector as being under severe pressure, alleging that vested interests continue to profit from fuel imports at the expense of Nigeria’s economic development.

“There are powerful interests in the oil sector. It is unfortunate that African countries still import refined petroleum products despite repeated calls for domestic refining and value addition. Allowing massive fuel imports is unethical and harmful to Nigeria,” he said.