SEE: Reasons why Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal

·         Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal

·         The 58-year-old, who made his fortune in cement, flour and sugar, believes that buying the Premier League club can boost Nigeria's reputation

·         He previously tried to buy a stake in the club in 2010 but was rebuffed 

Aliko Dangote, the Nigerian billionaire who recently declared an interest in buying Arsenal, has revealed the reasons behind his designs on the north London club.  

The 58-year-old business mogul believes that buying a Premier League team will help to raise the profile of his home country. Dangote had been criticised by some people in Nigeria for not investing the domestic league there, but he thinks that the Gunners represent a better project.  

 'The issue is that if I buy all the Nigerian clubs, the Nigerian flags will continue to remain here,' Dangote told Forbes.  

+3Nigerian businessman Aliko Dangote wants to buy Arsenal in order to raise the profile of his country

His business empire also extends to oil and he is building a private refinery in one of the country's jungle swamps due for completion in 2018. 

Five years ago, Dangote attempted to buy a small stake in Arsenal but was rebuffed. He tried to take over the 15 per cent owned by Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith who eventually sold Stan Kroenke.