Lagos state Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso on Tuesday said he was not aware if the $100m paid by Dangote Group to secure a land for the building of Dangote Refinery was done during the tenure of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Omotoso who spoke with TheScrutinyNG on telephone said he will have to find out the period the alleged sum was paid.
Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that he paid $100 million to the Lagos State government to acquire the land on which Dangote Refinery was built, contrary to the belief that it was offered to him free as an incentive.
Speaking on Saturday, the Africa’s richest man clarified that, “In the refinery, we did not, and I repeat, we did not collect one single incentive from the Federal Government of Nigeria or even Lagos State. Yes, the Lagos State gave us a good deal but we paid $100m for the land. It wasn’t a free land; we paid for it.”
When our correspondent enquired from Omotoso if the money for the land purchase was done during Governor Sanwo-Olu’s tenure or his predecessors, the commissioner advised her to find out from Dangote himself
“I don’t know. I will have to find out. Honestly, I don’t know. But I don’t understand, what is the point about that? If you want to know whether he is lying or saying the truth, why don’t you ask him (Dangote)?”. Ask him now” he said.
