DANGOTE Group has strongly denied viral claims suggesting that its founder, Aliko Dangote, fell out with Tony Elumelu after the UBA chairman allegedly promised financial assistance for the Dangote refinery project before later blocking communication with him.
News Point Nigeria reports that the company’s rebuttal followed a viral post circulated on X by a user identified as “Oghneminehhhhh,” who claimed Dangote revealed that he ran into serious financial difficulties during the construction of the refinery project in 2021 when the facility was only halfway completed.
According to the viral post, Dangote allegedly said he reached out to several prominent Nigerian businessmen for support, including Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu and Mike Adenuga.
The post further alleged that Tony Elumelu promised to support him with $20 million but later “blocked my contact everywhere,” leaving the billionaire industrialist disappointed during the critical phase of the refinery project.
The X user additionally claimed that Dangote’s other associates eventually came together to raise $500 million for him, with Femi Otedola allegedly contributing as much as $300 million.
The claims quickly generated widespread reactions on social media, particularly because of the suggestion that Elumelu allegedly distanced himself from Dangote at a difficult moment during the construction of what is regarded as Africa’s biggest refinery project.
However, reacting in a statement issued on Saturday, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, described the entire story as fabricated, malicious and baseless.
The company specifically rejected the viral content titled, “Aliko Dangote Speaks Out on Why He Distanced Himself from Tony Elumelu,” insisting that neither Dangote nor the company ever made such statements.
“At no time did the president or the group make such statements or express such sentiments,” the statement said.
Dangote Group also firmly denied claims that the refinery project was financed through personal borrowing from friends and business associates.
According to the company, Dangote does not rely on personal loans from friends to execute projects and has never engaged in the type of lending arrangements being portrayed online.
“The group categorically rejects claims that the development of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals was financed through personal borrowing from friends,” the company stated.
“These assertions are wholly inaccurate and constitute a deliberate misrepresentation of facts.”
The company challenged anyone making such claims to provide verifiable evidence to back their allegations.
Dangote Group further dismissed reports of any rift between Dangote and Elumelu, insisting that both businessmen still maintain a longstanding and cordial relationship.
“Equally false are suggestions of any estrangement between Aliko Dangote and Mr Tony Elumelu, with whom he maintains a longstanding and cordial relationship,” the company added.
The conglomerate also expressed concern over what it described as the growing misuse of Dangote’s identity and image in misleading digital content and AI-generated materials.
According to the statement, there has been an increasing trend of fabricated quotes and unauthorised use of Dangote’s name, likeness and image in false advertisements and manipulated online publications.
“The group notes with concern a rising pattern of fabricated statements and the unauthorised use of Aliko Dangote’s name, likeness, and image in AI-generated advertisements and other misleading content. These actions amount to reputational harm and potential fraud,” the statement read.
Dangote Group warned individuals, organisations and platforms involved in creating or spreading such content to stop immediately or face legal consequences.
“All individuals, organisations, and platforms involved in the creation, publication, or dissemination of such false content are hereby put on notice to desist immediately,” the company warned.
“The group will take appropriate steps, including legal action where necessary, to protect its reputation and that of its leadership.”
The company reiterated that it remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity while continuing to pursue industrialisation, economic self-sufficiency and sustainable development across Africa.