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Nigerian billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu has commissioned Italian yacht builder Baglietto to construct a 60 meter superyacht, a deal that would add a new headline asset to the businessman’s growing list of high profile purchases.
Rabiu confirmed the project in a brief Instagram post on Tuesday, writing: “60 metres in the making. Thanks, Fabio and James. #ASR.”
Neither Rabiu nor Baglietto released contract terms, a delivery timeline or design details. Still, the post strongly suggests the build is already underway or has moved into early planning, with the 60 meter size placing the yacht in the large superyacht class typically reserved for long range cruising and charter level amenities.
Baglietto, based in La Spezia on Italy’s northwest coast, is a long established name in luxury yacht construction and has delivered multiple yachts in the 40 to 60 meter range in recent years. A 60 meter order would generally involve custom naval architecture, significant engineering lead time and a build period that can stretch multiple years depending on specification and yard capacity.
Rabiu is best known as the founder of BUA Group, one of Nigeria’s largest industrial conglomerates, with major interests in cement, sugar, flour and infrastructure. He also chairs BUA Cement, a key player in West Africa’s building materials market, and has expanded his profile through large scale projects in manufacturing and energy.
The yacht project, while personal, fits a broader pattern among Africa’s wealthiest business figures, many of whom increasingly commission bespoke assets in Europe and the Gulf, from private jets to high end marine builds. Industry observers say such purchases often reflect both status and practical use, with superyachts commonly deployed for family travel, corporate hosting and international leisure.
Rabiu’s post did not include images of the yacht, drawings, or a yard location, and Baglietto has not publicly confirmed the contract in an official announcement. Rabiu’s message, however, leaves little doubt about the intended size and the chosen builder, and it has already sparked interest among followers tracking high net worth spending tied to African industrial fortunes.
If confirmed by the shipyard, the 60 meter build would place Rabiu among a small group of Nigerian tycoons with newly commissioned superyachts from top tier European makers
