The Dangote Group has dismissed reports alleging a rift between its President, Aliko Dangote, and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, describing the claims as false and malicious.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company said a widely circulated publication suggesting that Dangote had distanced himself from Elumelu was entirely baseless and did not originate from either the businessman or the organisation.
The group also refuted claims that Dangote sought financial assistance from associates to fund the multi-billion-dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals project, insisting that such assertions misrepresent the financing structure of the project.
According to the statement, Dangote does not rely on informal personal borrowing from friends to finance his ventures, and any claims to that effect should be supported by verifiable evidence.
The company maintained that there is no disagreement between Dangote and Elumelu, noting that both business leaders continue to enjoy a longstanding and cordial relationship.
The clarification follows the circulation of an online post attributed to Dangote, which alleged that he ran out of funds during the refinery project and approached several prominent businessmen, including Femi Otedola, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Mike Adenuga, for financial support.
The post further claimed that while some associates contributed funds, Elumelu allegedly failed to fulfil a promised contribution. However, the Dangote Group has rejected the entire narrative, stating that the claims are fabricated and should not be attributed to its president.
Beyond the disputed report, the company expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of misinformation, including the unauthorised use of Dangote’s identity in artificial intelligence-generated content and advertisements.
It warned that such actions could damage reputations and potentially amount to fraud, adding that it would take legal steps against individuals or platforms responsible for spreading false information.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and integrity, while continuing its industrial operations and economic contributions across Africa.
