Jamil Mohammed Abubakar, son-in-law of business mogul Aliko Dangote, has triggered widespread reactions on social media after suggesting that Nigeria should cancel all public holidays—including weekends—to boost productivity and accelerate national development.
In a post he originally shared in 2022, Jamil argued that Nigeria is significantly behind economically and needs to adopt a more intense work culture to catch up with other nations.
According to him, frequent holidays slow down productivity and weaken economic progress. He went as far as suggesting that even weekends could be scrapped, proposing instead that citizens work almost every day, with only a single day set aside for rest.
“All holidays in Nigeria should be cancelled. We are so far behind, we need to catch up. In actual facts, even weekend should be canceled. Everyone should have one day of rest & back to work… all this holiday left right center no money, who eee epp? Make una tell me,” he wrote.
The resurfaced post has reignited debate online, with many Nigerians divided over whether the proposal is realistic or disconnected from the country’s economic and social realities.
While some users argued that increased productivity is needed to drive growth, others strongly opposed the idea, saying rest days and public holidays are essential for work-life balance, cultural observance, and mental health.
Jamil, a former aviation professional and businessman, was recently appointed Managing Director of Infrastructure and Logistics at the Dangote Group, a role that places him in charge of major infrastructure development within the $33 billion conglomerate.
He is married to Fatimah Dangote, daughter of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and is also the son of former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar.
Nigeria currently observes several national and religious holidays annually, including New Year’s Day, Workers’ Day, Democracy Day, Independence Day, and major Islamic and Christian celebrations such as Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Christmas.
The renewed attention on Jamil’s comments has once again sparked conversations about work culture, productivity, and economic reform in Nigeria.
