Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian businessman, has been granted the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) by President Bola Tinubu.
The GCON is Nigeria’s second-highest national decoration, following the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (GCFR), which is reserved for presidents.
The honour was bestowed via an Instrument of Conferment of National honour dated January 8, 2026.
Tinubu stated that he acted in accordance with the authority conferred on him under Section 1(4) of the National Honours Act, citing Chagoury’s “outstanding virtues” and contributions to the country as the reason for the award.
“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 to have, and enjoy title, dignity and all the privileges of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) given at Abuja under my Hand and the Public Seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the president said.
WHO IS CHAGOURY?
Chagoury was born in Nigeria to Lebanese immigrants. He co-founded the Chagoury Group in Lagos in 1971. The group owns construction, real estate, hotel, glass, and flour milling companies.
He also contributes significantly to the Eko Atlantic project through South Energyx Nigeria Limited, a Chagoury Group affiliate.
The Lebanese-Nigerian had a tight relationship with the late Sani Abacha, a former Nigerian military dictator in the 1990s, and his enterprises apparently thrived during this time.
A Swiss court reportedly convicted him in 2000 of laundering part of Abacha’s plundered monies from Nigeria.
Chagoury allegedly agreed to pay a fine of around one million Swiss francs (around $600,000 at the time) and repay $66 million to Nigeria’s government.
He denied knowing the monies had been taken.
Hitech Construction Company Ltd, the company in charge of the contentious Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, is part of the Chagoury Group.
