Why I Prefer Staying in Hotels After Selling My UK, US Properties – Dangote

Billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote has explained why he prefers staying in hotels instead of owning luxury homes abroad, saying he sold his properties in the United States and the United Kingdom to focus more on building businesses in Nigeria.

According to Dangote, owning expensive foreign properties can create distractions and responsibilities that take attention away from long-term goals. He said selling those assets allowed him to simplify his lifestyle and concentrate on industrial investments.

“When I decided to go into the industry, you know what I did? I sold all my properties in the US. I had two houses in the US, big mansions, and I had a house in the UK. I wanted to really sit in Nigeria and concentrate,” he said.

Dangote added that holiday homes often require time and attention, which can reduce productivity. “Now my life is very simple. Wherever I go, I use hotels; I pay. When I leave, nobody will call me and say I have a burst pipe or something is wrong,” he explained.

The businessman also said discipline, long-term planning, and clear targets have been central to his success. He noted that many of his investments are designed to reduce dependence on imports by increasing local production.

“I first look at what we need as a people — what we should be producing and what we are importing,” Dangote said, adding that his businesses focus on producing essential goods used by millions daily.