News
Nigerian-Lebanese Billionaire Gilbert Chagoury Bags Nigeria’s Second Highest National Honour
Nigerian-Lebanese billionaire businessman, Gilbert Chagoury has been awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The official instrument of conferment, signed in Abuja on January 8, 2026, reads: “In exercise of the powers vested in me under section 1(4) of the National Honours Act, I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in recognition of your outstanding virtues and services to our country, hereby award you the title, dignity and all privileges of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).”
The GCON is one of Nigeria’s highest national honors, typically reserved for the Vice President, Senate President, Chief Justice and other top national figures.
Chagoury’s recognition reflects his decades-long contribution to Nigeria’s economic growth through the Chagoury Group, a private conglomerate he co-founded in 1971.
His business journey began at age 25, when he co-founded Chagoury Group with his younger brother, Ronald, in 1971.
Over five decades, the group has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading conglomerates, with operations spanning construction, flour milling, water treatment, glass manufacturing, insurance, hospitality, telecommunications, infrastructure and real estate.
The Group’s landmark projects in the real estate include Banana Island and the ambitious Eko Atlantic City built on reclaimed land along the Lagos coastline.
Positioned as Lagos’ future commercial hub, Eko Atlantic City is attracting major companies and reshaping the city’s corporate and residential footprint as Lagos approaches a population of 25 million. The lush city is expected to accommodate about 250,000 residents and up to 150,000 daily commuters.
Among Chagoury’s other significant undertakings is the $700 million Lagos Port renovation project, announced earlier this year as part of the government’s push to modernize port infrastructure.
He is also behind the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, awarded to Hitech Construction Company, another firm under his control.
Chagoury’s recognition highlights the role of private enterprise in Nigeria’s urban and economic development. It further emphasizes the impact of sustained leadership and long-term strategic planning on infrastructure, investment and business growth.
Celebrating the honour, Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola, in a recent post on X, formerly Twitter, said, “Congratulations to my role model, dear friend and mentor, Ambassador Gilbert Chagoury, on the well-deserved GCON honor conferred by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Sir, your life is a masterclass in vision, discipline, and steady excellence,” he added. “From Banana Island to Eko Atlantic City, your work speaks in landmarks, jobs, and lasting impact, inspiring generations of Nigerians to think bigger and act bolder. This honor is truly well deserved.”
Pa Fasoranti’s family announces December 17 burial plans for the late Afenifere leader, who died at 100 in Akure, Ondo State
David Umahi predicts a South-East voting shift in 2027, citing Tinubu’s infrastructure projects and appointments across the region
Minister of Works David Umahi has predicted that voters in the South-East will support President Bola Tinubu differently in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that federal infrastructure projects and political appointments have changed the region’s relationship with the administration.
Also read: FG to immortalise Nigerian soldiers killed in Liberia, Sierra Leone
Umahi made the prediction in an interview with ARISE News published on Friday, describing the region’s overwhelming support for Labour Party candidate Peter Obi in the 2023 election as an “accident of history”.
He attributed the voting pattern to anger over what he described as the region’s marginalisation under the previous administration.
“In 2023, it was an accident of history. It was a demonstration of the anger of the people of South East on how they were treated,” he said.
The former Ebonyi State governor added that he believed the situation had changed under Tinubu.
“We’ve been marginalised in the past, but it’s no longer so,” Umahi said.
“If in 2023 they demonstrated their anger, in 2027 they are going to demonstrate their joy on how the President has treated them,” he added.
The minister said federal road projects and other investments in the South-East were reasons voters might reconsider their political choices in 2027.
He also claimed that serving and former governors, traditional rulers and other influential figures in the region were increasingly aligning with Tinubu.
Umahi argued that voters would be reluctant to abandon what he described as infrastructure gains for another political “gamble”.
However, his prediction reflects his own assessment of the region’s political mood.
The interview did not establish how voters currently intend to vote in 2027.
Umahi rejected suggestions that South-East political leaders supporting Tinubu were betraying the region or Obi, arguing that the region’s political interests should not be permanently tied to one candidate.
He also criticised social media supporters who insult regional leaders for backing the President, saying such attacks would not advance Obi’s political interests or those of the South-East.
The minister maintained that the region needed to negotiate and build alliances with other parts of Nigeria if it hoped to produce a president in the future.
Asked whether he believed Tinubu would defeat Obi in the South-East in 2027, Umahi responded confidently: “Why do you say I believe? That is what is going to happen!”
Also read: FG to immortalise Nigerian soldiers killed in Liberia, Sierra Leone
His comments come as political alignments and debates over regional representation begin to shape discussions ahead of the 2027 general election.
-
Politics3 years ago
13 Ondo Assembly Members Disown Endorsement of Aiyedatiwa
-
Politics3 years ago
APC Group, Ondo Govt, Quarrel Over Money for Endorsement
-
Trending News5 years agoStop unsavoury, inciting statements – DSS warns
-
Others5 years agoAdron Homes Celebrates 10 Years Of Housing Excellence
-
Humanity5 years agoPresident Buhari Commiserates With Ambassador Maureen Tamuno Over The Loss Of Her Father
-
Others7 years agoEX- CUSTOMS BOSS, IBRAHIM MERA’S DWINDLING FAME
-
Business2 years agoBigi Carbonated Soft Drinks Treats 40 Consumers to an Epic Easter Movie Hangout
-
Business2 years agoWema Bank Shines at Global SME Finance Forum Conference Awards 2024 …Awarded: • SME Financier of the Year (Africa) • Platinum Award for Best Financier for Women Entrepreneurs (Africa)