By Charles Maduka
President Bola Tinubu has awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger to businessman Gilbert Chagoury.
The GCON is Nigeria’s second highest national honour and is usually given to people who have made major contributions to the country.
The president said the honour was given in recognition of Chagoury’s services to Nigeria and his personal qualities, acting under the powers given to him by the National Honours Act.
Chagoury is a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman who was born in Nigeria. He co-founded the Chagoury Group in Lagos in 1971, with interests in construction, real estate, hotels, glass production and flour milling.
He is also a major supporter of the Eko Atlantic project through South Energyx Nigeria Limited, a company linked to the Chagoury Group.
Chagoury was closely associated with former military ruler Sani Abacha in the 1990s, a period during which his businesses expanded. He was later convicted by a Swiss court over money laundering linked to Abacha funds but denied knowing the money was stolen and returned part of the funds to Nigeria.
A subsidiary of the Chagoury Group, Hitech Construction Company Limited, is currently handling the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Leave a Reply