While Western governments flag Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury as a security risk with suspected ties to Hezbollah, Nigeria's government is handing him control over major infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars, according to investigative reports circulating on Nigerian social media.
The contrast between international caution and Nigerian embrace highlights the complex relationship between political power and economic influence in Africa's largest economy. Chagoury, who made his fortune in construction and holds both Lebanese and Nigerian citizenship, has been a controversial figure in Nigerian politics for decades.
U.S. authorities have previously investigated Chagoury over campaign finance violations and alleged connections to Middle Eastern militant groups. In 2019, he entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice over Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. European intelligence agencies have raised questions about his financial networks and potential ties to Hezbollah funding mechanisms.
Yet in Abuja, Chagoury's Chagoury Group continues winning contracts for roads, housing developments, and urban infrastructure across Nigeria. Under President Bola Tinubu's administration, his influence appears to have grown rather than diminished despite international scrutiny.
"While the rest of the world flags him as a security risk, the Nigerian government is handing him the keys to the economy," said one anti-corruption activist in Lagos, speaking anonymously due to security concerns. "This is about access to power, not about competence or security clearance."
Nigerian anti-corruption advocates argue that Chagoury's continued prominence exemplifies the country's governance challenges. Despite public commitments to transparency, major infrastructure contracts still flow to connected businessmen regardless of international red flags.
The Chagoury Group's construction projects are visible across Nigerian cities—from luxury hotels in Lagos to housing estates in Abuja. His Eko Atlantic City project aims to build a new city on reclaimed land off the Lagos coast, representing billions in investment and demonstrating his economic clout.
Defenders note that Chagoury has never been convicted of terrorism financing and that investigations have not produced definitive evidence of militant connections. His lawyers have consistently denied allegations of improper activities, characterizing scrutiny as politically motivated.
"Nigerian business operates through relationships," explained one Lagos business consultant. "Chagoury built those relationships over decades, starting with Sani Abacha's military regime in the 1990s. That access doesn't disappear because foreign governments raise questions."
In Nigeria, as across Africa's giants, challenges are real but entrepreneurial energy and cultural creativity drive progress. Yet when governments prioritize political connections over security vetting, they risk not just corruption but potential exposure to international criminal networks.
The disconnect between Western concerns and Nigerian policy reflects broader tensions in how African nations balance sovereignty against international pressure. Nigerian officials argue they won't let foreign governments dictate who can do business in their country. Critics counter that ignoring legitimate security concerns invites the very instability Nigeria desperately needs to overcome.
For ordinary Nigerians watching their government embrace a businessman flagged by multiple foreign intelligence agencies, the Chagoury case reinforces cynicism about whether leadership prioritizes national interests or personal enrichment. In a country where trust in institutions already runs low, such perceptions matter as much as the facts themselves.
