President Bola Tinubu has ignited a significant public debate by conferring Nigeria’s second-highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on prominent businessman Gilbert Chagoury. The award, bestowed on January 8th to mark Chagoury’s 80th birthday, remained private until it was widely publicized on Monday, sparking immediate reactions. Billionaire Femi Otedola was among the first to publicly congratulate Chagoury on social media, hailing him as a “role model, dear friend and mentor,” whose work from Banana Island to Eko Atlantic City demonstrates “vision, discipline, and steady excellence.” Special adviser to the President, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the conferment, stating it recognized Chagoury's “various services to Nigeria, on the economic front, hospitality industry and so on.”

Gilbert Chagoury, born in Lagos on January 8, 1946, to Lebanese immigrant parents, co-founded the influential Chagoury Group in 1971 with his younger brother, Ronald Chagoury. This vast business conglomerate boasts diverse interests, including construction, real estate, property development, flour milling, water bottling, glass manufacturing, insurance, hotels, furniture manufacturing, telecommunications, and catering. The group is notably responsible for landmark developments like the exclusive Banana Island and the ambitious ongoing Eko Atlantic City project in Lagos. Beyond these, the Chagoury Group is also significantly involved in large-scale infrastructure initiatives across Nigeria, such as the strategic Lagos-Calabar coastal highway and crucial renovation efforts at Tincan and Apapa Ports.

Despite his significant business achievements, Gilbert Chagoury's career has been marked by several high-profile controversies that have drawn public scrutiny. He was notably associated with the late military dictator General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 to 1998. Following Abacha’s death, Chagoury returned approximately $300 million to the Nigerian government. Subsequently, in 2000, he agreed to forfeit an additional $66 million after being convicted by Swiss prosecutors in connection with funds linked to the Abacha regime, specifically for money laundering. His past also includes a detention incident in the United States in 2010 after appearing on a no-fly list, for which the Department of Homeland Security later issued an apology. Furthermore, in 2018, he and two associates resolved a federal investigation related to campaign finance violations in the US.

The conferment of the GCON honour has, however, faced strong criticism from political figures and public analysts, who view it as a troubling endorsement given Chagoury's controversial past. Comrade Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), vehemently condemned the decision. In a statement, Frank asserted that the award “sends a dangerous signal that corruption and conflicts of interest are being normalised at the highest levels of power.” He argued that bestowing Nigeria’s second-highest national award on an individual publicly tainted by allegations and judicial findings of corruption “undermines public trust and the country’s anti-corruption posture,” sending a “deeply troubling message about our national values.”

Frank further highlighted alleged conflicts of interest, pointing to reports of Chagoury's business association with President Bola Tinubu. He specifically cited concerns regarding the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, which he alleged was awarded without competitive bidding to Hitech Construction Company, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group. Recalling Chagoury's 2000 Swiss court conviction for money laundering linked to Abacha loot, Frank emphasized the optics of the award and the project, which he stated “fuel public suspicion of abuse of power.” He warned against Nigeria becoming a “theatre where corruption is rewarded, conflicts of interest are ignored, and foreign influence is leveraged against national and allied economic interests,” suggesting international governance implications.

Adding to the chorus of disapproval, public analyst Mahdi Shehu sharply criticized President Tinubu’s decision. In a satirical post on his X account, Shehu mocked the administration, suggesting that Tinubu should replace Vice President Kashim Shettima with Chagoury and even rename the nation’s capital, Abuja, as “Chagoury enclave,” with Nigeria's name changed to “Lebanon,” implying a complete “capture circle” and “slavery reintroduced.” These strong reactions underscore the deep public and political unease surrounding the honour.

The relationship between President Tinubu and Gilbert Chagoury is long-standing, predating Tinubu's presidency and stretching back to his tenure as governor of Lagos State (1999-2007). In 2024, leaked documents reportedly revealed that the President’s son, Seyi Tinubu, was listed as a majority shareholder in an offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands, alongside Chagoury’s nephew, Ronald Chagoury Jr. Although the company was incorporated about a decade ago, its current ownership structure remains unclear. Furthermore, Chagoury accompanied President Tinubu on a state visit to France in December 2024, participating in meetings focused on economic cooperation. In 2024, Tinubu himself paid tribute to Chagoury on his 78th birthday, describing him as a “valued and treasured person” whose friendship provided peace of mind.