Controversy is swirling over last year’s meeting between Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria, and Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Namibia’s Honorary Consul in Nigeria, Justin Chuma Anosike, has been accused of charging Dangote – his fellow countryman – US$1 million to facilitate the meeting. Anosike vehemently denies the allegations.

“The denial,” according to the Windhoek Observer, “comes amid separate allegations that confidential Cabinet minutes and strategic documents from the National Planning Commission (NPC) were leaked to Anosike and subsequently passed to a senior executive within the Dangote Group.

“NPC director-general Kaire Mbuende has also rejected the allegations, telling the Windhoek Observer yesterday that he never provided Anosike with confidential documents relating to Dangote’s proposed investment.”

As per the Windhoek Observer:

Mbuende said his first interaction with Anosike occurred at State House during Dangote’s meeting with Nandi-Ndaitwah and that their subsequent engagements were limited to discussions aimed at attracting foreign direct investment into Namibia.

“So we had a few meetings in that capacity. Then, of course, whenever there is a Namibian function, we were in New York at the UN, and there was a Namibian function, he attended those functions. And that really has been my association with him, and nothing beyond that,” Mbuende said.

According to Mbuende, Anosike had approached him on several occasions to introduce potential investors interested in Namibia’s strategic projects, but their interactions did not extend to the sharing of confidential government information.

Anosike told the Windhoek Observer that Dangote himself requested that he facilitate the visit to Nandi-Ndaitwah mid last year.

“I facilitated a visit by Dangote to President Netumbo in July 2025,” Anosike said in his written response.

He said he attended some of the bilateral discussions at State House and later accompanied Dangote to Walvis Bay, where the businessman inspected facilities at the port.

Anosike said he did not request an introduction fee or any other payment before or during the visit.

“I never prior to or during the said visit requested any sort of ‘introduction or other fee’ for facilitating the visit,” he said.

However, Anosike acknowledged that after the visit he submitted a Strategic Advisory Agreement proposal to Dangote.

He said the proposal was made at Dangote’s request and related to specific services he would provide in connection with the proposed investment.

“Subsequent to the visit and upon request by Dangote, I proposed a ‘Strategic Advisory Agreement’ for specific services I would render to Dangote pursuant to the proposed Project,” Anosike said.

According to Anosike, Dangote never responded to the proposal but instead circulated it alongside what he described as a “false narrative”.

“Dangote never reverted, but chose to circulate my proposal along with a false narrative for reasons best known to him,” he said.

Anosike confirmed that no money had ultimately been paid to him by Dangote.

The distinction between the alleged US$1 million “introduction fee” and the Strategic Advisory Agreement is therefore central to Anosike’s response.

He maintains that the proposal was for advisory services following the visit and was not a fee for introducing Dangote to the President.

Mbuende rejected allegations that confidential Cabinet minutes or NPC documents were leaked to Anosike.

Asked whether there was any document relating to the Dangote project that had been provided to Anosike, Mbuende said: “No. There was no document.”

He said the information concerning Dangote’s proposed investment had largely been presented openly to government institutions and was not confidential.

“They made a presentation about what they want to do in Namibia. They want to put up a tank farm to supply oil to neighbouring countries. They want to put up a pipeline to supply the neighbouring countries from here and so forth,” Mbuende said.

“These are all, they have also been releasing statements and that we have read in the newspapers. So there was nothing confidential.”

Mbuende said the project was subsequently approved by Cabinet for government support and facilitation.

“There was a Cabinet decision there, to promote and facilitate the project. And there is no Cabinet confidential document with Dangote or anything,” he said.

He explained that his role was to coordinate with government institutions to help address challenges facing the proposed investment, including issues involving Namport, the ministry of finance, the ministry of works and transport and the ministry of home affairs.

“My role, really, as a government, is to make sure that this project comes to fruition. And I’m dealing primarily with government institutions to make it happen, and that’s the mandate I was given,” Mbuende said.

Mbuende said the proposed investment involves establishing a tank farm in Walvis Bay to supply oil to neighbouring countries, together with related infrastructure.

The project has involved discussions over land, import duties, visas and access to the jetty.

According to Mbuende, Namport initially allocated land for the proposed tank farm, but negotiations over the land eventually stalled. The Dangote Group subsequently pursued alternative land through the Walvis Bay municipality.

The jetty issue was also referred to an inter-ministerial committee involving relevant government institutions, including the ministry of industries, mines and energy.

Mbuende said his role was to assist when the investors encountered challenges with government processes.

“Normally, whenever anything happens relating to this project, and especially when they experience a problem, they would come to me, and then I will either facilitate, or talk to the relevant ministries,” he said.

Anosike has also categorically denied leaking confidential government documents to anyone within the Dangote Group.

“I never leaked any confidential documents to any member of the Dangote group,” he said.

He also denied obtaining any documents relating to the Dangote project from the NPC.

“I did not obtain any documents relating to the Dangote project,” Anosike said.

Anosike said his interactions with Mbuende were conducted in his capacity as Honorary Consul and focused on attracting foreign direct investment and identifying strategic business opportunities.

“I relate with Dr. Mbuende, DG of NPC in my capacity as Honorary Consul of Namibia and discuss ways of attracting FDI into Namibia generally,” he said.

Mbuende confirmed that Anosike had introduced potential investors to him on previous occasions, including US-based investors, but said nothing ultimately came of those engagements.

He also said he did not regard his relationship with Anosike as having deteriorated following the alleged dispute with Dangote.

“No, we never had a relationship, so would you say, we had a fallout?” Mbuende said.

Anosike said he had not been approached or questioned by any government authority concerning either the alleged document leaks or the US$1 million payment.

He described the allegations as “completely false, baseless and malicious” and said he had served Namibia as Honorary Consul for more than a decade without incident.

The Windhoek Observer also sought comment from Dangote’s local representative, Ipupa Fadeyi regarding the alleged Strategic Advisory Agreement, the US$1 million payment request and the alleged leaked documents.

No response had been received from the Dangote Group at the time of publication, despite numerous attempts.

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