Key Points

• Dangote Group labelled a viral Facebook post falsely quoting Aliko Dangote on cement revenue “fake,” sharing a screenshot on its official X account without further comment.
• On the same day as the denial, TIME magazine named Dangote the only Nigerian on its 2026 list of the world’s 100 most influential people, placing him in the “Titans” category.
• Dangote’s Vision 2030 roadmap targets growing the conglomerate from a $30 billion regional business to a $100 billion global enterprise, with the first phase focused on cement, fertilizer and energy.

Dangote Group moved swiftly Wednesday to kill a viral social media claim falsely attributed to its chairman, while the same day TIME magazine named Aliko Dangote among the world’s 100 most influential people.

Fake post, swift rebuttal

The claim, posted by a Facebook user identified as Idenyi Tijani Julius, attributed these words to Dangote: “Tinubu’s government takes 52 kobo from every N1 on cement. That is N6,240 from every bag of cement,” followed by a question about continued government borrowing. The post gained quick traction across platforms, sparking reactions over cement pricing and government taxation.

Dangote Group’s response was brief and direct. The company shared a screenshot of the viral post on its official X account, stamped it with the word “FAKE” and offered no further comment. By doing so, the company distanced its chairman from the statement and clarified that the quote did not originate from him.

The rebuttal lands at a moment when misinformation referencing prominent Nigerian figures has become routine. Fake AI-generated videos and fabricated quotes attributed to Dangote have surfaced repeatedly in recent months, including a viral investment scheme that falsely used his image to promise Nigerians weekly returns of up to N2.6 million.

TIME100: Only Nigerian on the list

The same day as the takedown, TIME magazine released its 2026 list of the world’s most influential people, with Dangote in the “Titans” category.

Dangote, the only Nigerian on the 2026 list, was featured alongside global figures including Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mark Carney and Pope Leo XIV, as well as business and technology leaders including Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan. Other Africans on the list include Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Precious Matsoso, Anok Yai, Mamadou Amadou Ly and Zabib Musa Loro.

TIME’s citation described Dangote as having financed and manufactured everything from cement to sugar to oil, and recently opened Nigeria’s largest refinery as part of his push to invest in African industry. The citation added that he has shown Africans can create value “with our own resources, on our continent.”

This marks Dangote’s second appearance on the TIME100 list. He was first honoured in 2014 for his impact on business and philanthropy. His return more than a decade later reflects the consistency and scale of his global influence.

Vision 2030 and a $100bn target

TIME highlighted Dangote’s long-term vision of building globally competitive industries using African resources, pointing to his large-scale investments in manufacturing and energy infrastructure as central to Africa’s economic transformation.

Beyond business, Dangote was recognized for his philanthropic work through the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which supports initiatives in healthcare, nutrition, education, disaster relief and economic empowerment.

The 2026 recognition also comes as the Dangote Group advances its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to grow the conglomerate from a $30 billion regional player into a $100 billion global enterprise.

The first phase of the plan, running from 2025 to 2028, is focused on scaling existing businesses in cement, fertilizer and energy while optimizing assets for global competitiveness.

The second phase, covering 2028 to 2030, targets expansion into new sectors and international markets, including steel manufacturing, power generation and deep-sea ports

Dangote turned 69 on April 10, 2026. President Tinubu marked the occasion with a public tribute, crediting him with repositioning Nigeria as a hub for large-scale petrochemical and cement production.