Dangote's company sacks 48 staff

Nigeria’s economic recession seems to have hit the Dangote Group, owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.

The company has reportedly fired 48 staff - 36 expatriates and 12 Nigerians.

Reports say the sackings were due to the current high cost of doing business in the recession-hit country, and the firm had been unable to raise foreign currency to pay the expatriate workers.

But Dangote Group spokesman Tony Chiejina told the BBC the dismissals were unconnected to the recession. The company was streamlining its activities, and some jobs had been taken over by its subsidiaries.

Dangote group is...