Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian billionaire who recently
declared an interest in buying Arsenal, has revealed the reasons behind his
designs on the north London club.
The
58-year-old business mogul believes that buying a Premier League team will help
to raise the profile of his home country.
Dangote had been criticised by some
people in Nigeria for not investing the domestic league there, but he thinks
that the Gunners represent a better project.
“The
issue is that if I buy all the Nigerian clubs, the Nigerian flags will continue
to remain here,” Dangote told Forbes.
He
added that, “Buying Arsenal will take the Nigerian flag worldwide. Just like
whenever (Chelsea owner) Roman Abramovich is mentioned, the name of his country
comes up. Everyone knows he’s Russian.”
Dangote
amassed his fortune by becoming the majority shareholder in giant cement, flour
and sugar companies and currently supplies 90 per cent of Nigeria’s 170million
population.
His
business empire also extends to oil and he is building a private refinery in
one of the country’s jungle swamps due for completion in 2018.
Five
years ago, Dangote attempted to buy a small stake in Arsenal but was rebuffed.
He tried to take over the 15 per cent owned by Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith who
eventually sold Stan Kroenke.
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