Aliko Dangote Set to Spend $9 Billion on Refinery Project as Wave of Consumerism Sweeps the Continent

By Drew Hinshaw
Dec. 27, 2013 11:18 p.m. ET

LAGOS, Nigeria—Africa's richest man sat barefoot on his new yacht in a lagoon here after another night of about three hours sleep.
The day was filled with meetings about his cement company and preparations for a polio-fighting trip with fellow billionaire Bill Gates. His BlackBerry buzzed every few minutes with messages from the president of Benin, and a former U.S. ambassador wanted some face time.