Aliko Dangote, the Chairman of the Dangote Group, has called for Nigeria to limit its reliance on medical tourism and prioritise local drug production.
At the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event in Lagos on Wednesday, Dangote asserted that quality healthcare should be accessible to all Nigerians, irrespective of their financial status. He emphasised the need for collaboration with Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation to bolster local healthcare infrastructure and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The billionaire magnate argued that reducing overseas medical trips and enhancing local drug production would significantly improve healthcare access while preserving crucial resources within Nigeria’s economy.
“What we need to do is to stop this health tourism and begin producing our own drugs,” Dangote stated during a panel discussion.
He stressed the importance of partnering with Bill Gates, asserting that Nigerians should not have to journey abroad for medical treatment.
Reflecting on his philanthropic efforts, Dangote mentioned the Dangote Foundation’s successful collaboration with the Gates Foundation in eradicating Polio in Nigeria and enhancing nutrition.
From a business perspective, Dangote highlighted his company’s achievements, noting Nigeria’s transformation from the second-largest cement importer to the continent’s leading exporter. He also spoke of building the world’s second-largest fertiliser plant, which has enabled Nigeria to export 37% of its fertiliser to the United States.
In the petroleum industry, Dangote revealed his groundbreaking construction of a 650,000 bpd refinery, which has eliminated Nigeria’s dependence on imported petrol, exporting 400,000 metric tons of petrol in May 2025 alone.
The Goalkeepers event, hosted for the first time in Lagos by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, gathered global leaders, policymakers, and changemakers to evaluate progress towards the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Distinguished attendees included Bill Gates, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya.