‘I Don’t Care’ Aliko Dangote Responds To Lamu Residents Who Don’t Want The Oil Refinery

Nigerian billionaire, who is also the richest man in Africa, has responded to the 130 Lamu residents who seek to stop the construction of an oil refinery, saying it is normal in Africa.

Speaking to investors in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 29, Dangote acknowledged the Kenyan court order, saying legal challenges were a normal part of doing business in Africa.

“I saw a court order saying that we should not do any construction in Africa; I said this is normal in Africa; we don’t care,” Dangote said.

Additionally, he said that he is not afraid of the challenges, and anyone who comes forward with a problem, he will face it because it is not the first problem he is facing.

Dangote Says He Doesn’t Care

“Anybody who wants to cause trouble, we are ready for them,” he said.

Additionally, he also cited a previous case involving one of his factories in Senegal, where he said his company had sought intervention from the Supreme Court after the facility was halted.

Also Read: Court Gives Ruling on Planned Dangote Refinery Project in Lamu

The remarks came after the Malindi Environment and Land Court directed parties to maintain the existing status quo on Land Reference Number 13061 in Manda Magogoni, Lamu, pending an inter partes hearing scheduled for October 14, 2026

The proposed refinery is expected to have a capacity of 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Kenyan Government

The Kenyan government has backed the project, with Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi saying on Tuesday that the planned September 30, 2026, groundbreaking would proceed.

The Malindi Environment and Land Court has declined to halt the planned Dangote refinery project in Lamu after a party filed an application seeking to stop the multi-trillion-shilling development.

On September 25, Justice Jane Onyango declined to treat the application as urgent and directed the parties to preserve the existing situation regarding the disputed property.

Also Read: Kenyans Call Out Greenpeace Africa Over Opposition to Proposed Dangote Oil Refinery in Lamu

This is after the residents said the takeover is unlawful, and the land that is intended for the oil refinery has been owned by families and cultivated for generations.

Residents claim the development linked to the Nigerian billionaire risks displacing them without any resettlement plan or compensation.

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