By Ebi Kesiena
President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has warned that rising tensions in the Middle East may compel Nigeria and other African countries to revert to pandemic-era work-from-home arrangements if the crisis escalates.
Dangote issued the caution after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos, raising concerns over the vulnerability of African economies to volatile global oil prices amid mounting debt pressures.
Speaking on the potential fallout, the business magnate stressed that many African countries lack financial buffers to withstand prolonged shocks.
He noted that a large portion of the population depends on daily income for survival, making any disruption to economic activity particularly severe.
“If the situation does not de-escalate, many Africans who rely on daily earnings may struggle to meet basic needs,” he said,
highlighting the fragile economic reality across the continent, Dangote drew parallels with measures already being adopted in parts of the world to cope with rising energy costs.
He cited Indonesia’s shift to a four-day workweek and the possibility of a full transition to remote work if conditions worsen, similar to strategies deployed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In some countries, authorities are already limiting physical workdays, and if pressures persist, a complete shift to working from home may become inevitable,” he said.
He warned that Africa could bear disproportionate consequences from a crisis largely beyond its control, as escalating costs, particularly in energy, may overburden governments’ capacity to adjust wages accordingly.
According to him, the burden will fall most heavily on small business operators and informal workers who rely on fuel-powered operations, including barbers, bakers, and small-scale manufacturers.
Dangote added that beyond energy costs, opportunistic pricing could further worsen inflationary pressures, compounding hardship for ordinary citizens.
He called for urgent global efforts to de-escalate the conflict, stressing the need for collective action to prevent further economic strain.
“We must all hope and work towards a quick resolution of the crisis,” he said.
On a more positive note, Dangote expressed optimism about the economic prospects of President Tinubu’s recent visit to the United Kingdom, noting that the £746 million infrastructure agreement secured during the trip signals growing investor confidence in Nigeria and could deliver long-term benefits beyond its immediate financial value.
