A claim circulating widely across social media says that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, warned that Nigerians may be forced to adopt work-from-home measures due to rising fuel prices linked to the Iran–Israel crisis.
The Claim:
A viral WhatsApp message reads:
“U.S.-IRAN WAR: RISING OIL PRICES MAY FORCE NIGERIANS TO WORK FROM HOME – DANGOTE.”
Similarly, a Facebook post attributed to Instablog9ja and shared by a user claims Błîñkž Dõłłārž, a day ago as; “Breaking News” Read:
“U.S.-Iran W@r: Rising Oil Prices May Force Nigerians to Work from Home – Dangote
“Aliko Dangote, chairman and CEO of Dangote Group, has warned that the ongoing Middle East crisis could force Nigerians to adopt COVID-era work-from-home measures if the conflict doesn’t ease.
‘Speaking after meeting President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, he expressed concern over the impact of oil price volatility on Africa’s already debt-laden economies.
“If this thing doesn’t de-escalate, you know, normally we in Africa, we don’t have any reserves in terms of savings. And so, people normally go out and look for money for the next day or for the same day. Some of them, if they don’t work that day, they won’t eat,” Dangote said.
“He cited Indonesia, where workers are limited to four days a week or may be asked to work from home. “In some countries today, what they’ve done is ask everybody to work from home because they cannot afford it. I think Indonesia also says only go to work four days a week. And they will look at the situation. If it doesn’t improve, they will ask everybody not to go to work anymore. We will do like that time of COVID, where people will now go and work from home,” he explained.
“Dangote warned the crisis would hit small business owners hardest: “People who are now doing barbers, people who are doing bread, people who have industries who have to pay their own generator, you know, I mean, you can see what is happening.”
“He also urged prayers and international intervention: “We just need all hands on deck to pray that this thing comes to an end.”
Verification:
We used Google search engine, and Google Lens, Checks shows that the claim is misleading and exaggerated
The only related post to what Dangote actually said, according to reuters,” Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, warned after meeting President Bola Tinubu on Monday that prolonged disruption could force work-from-home measures similar to those introduced during the COVID pandemic.
“I pray, and everybody needs to pray, that this thing de-escalates,” Dangote told the Punch newspaper, saying a lack of savings in many African households would make such restrictions difficult.”
Conclusion:
The finding is partially accurate, but exaggerated, the viral claim misrepresents Dangote’s statement.
Although he raised concerns about the economic consequences of escalating tensions in the Middle East, he did not say Nigerians would be forced to work from home. His remarks were speculative and cautionary, not a policy pronouncement.
Dangote made the remarks after a meeting with President Tinubu in Lagos on Monday, during the Eid-el-Fitr visit, where discussions also covered Nigeria’s economic outlook and the implications of global oil price fluctuations.
