Tinubu Confers GCON On Business Associate Chagoury
President Bola Tinubu has conferred the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), Nigeria’s second highest national honour, on his longtime associate and businessman, Gilbert Chagoury.
In a letter obtained by Naija News House, President Tinubu said the honour was bestowed on Chagoury in recognition of his contributions to Nigeria’s development.
“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 in appreciation of your services to our country, Nigeria, hereby award to you the title, dignity and all the privileges of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON),” the letter read.
Reacting to the honour, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola described the award as well deserved, praising Chagoury’s legacy in business and national development.
“Your life is a masterclass in vision, discipline, and steady excellence,” Otedola wrote.
He highlighted Chagoury’s role in major real estate and infrastructure developments across the country, noting their impact on job creation and Nigeria’s urban growth.
“From Banana Island to Eko Atlantic City, your work speaks in landmarks, jobs, and lasting impact, and your leadership has inspired generations of Nigerians to think bigger and act bolder,” he added.
Otedola concluded by celebrating Chagoury’s achievements and reaffirming his admiration, saying, “This honour is truly well deserved. I celebrate you today and always.”
Gilbert Chagoury is a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman born in Lagos to Lebanese immigrant parents. In 1971, he co-founded the Chagoury Group with his younger brother, Ronald Chagoury. The group has grown into a major industrial conglomerate with interests spanning construction, real estate and property development, flour milling, water bottling and purification, glass manufacturing, insurance, hospitality, furniture manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, catering and international financing.
However, the relationship between President Tinubu and Chagoury has previously attracted public scrutiny. In 2024, controversy arose following the award of the $11 billion Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project to Chagoury’s construction firm, Hitech. The deal was criticised over the absence of a public bidding process and the longstanding personal association between the president and the businessman.
Further reports later emerged that President Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, sits on the board of one of Chagoury’s companies and is also a joint shareholder in a British Virgin Islands-based entity with Chagoury’s son, Ronald Chagoury Jr.
Despite the controversies, supporters of the honour maintain that Chagoury’s decades-long contributions to Nigeria’s economy and infrastructure justify the national recognition.
