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Senate Commends Dangote-Sinotruk’s Investment in Vehicle Assembling in Nigeria

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Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Tokunbo Abiru has commended Dangote Sinotruk West Africa for its impressive commitment to Nigeria’s economic development through investment in a vehicle assembly plant in the country.

According to him, with Dangote Sinotruk West Africa, Nigeria’s path to self-reliance in vehicle assembling has begun. “We want to encourage the company to continue to see how best to make Nigeria self-reliant in vehicle assembling as well as encourage other players in the value chain to also get on board”, he said.

Abiru said in as much as members of the Senate Committee on Industry  would prefer a factory setting where almost everything are manufactured here in Nigeria, “we believe what Dangote Sinotruk have in place is a very good starting point towards achieving backward integration in vehicle assembling in Nigeria.”

He stated: “What the company is doing is one of the ways you can advance the economy of this country. The company has a production line that assembles trucks that are needed for economic activities in Nigeria. For us in the Senate, this is a very good starting point. Our desire is for Completely Knocked Down parts (CKDs) to be manufactured here in Nigeria.

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“The Dangote Sinotruk plant will assist the government to preserve foreign exchange that would have been used to imports trucks into the country. The company is also providing employment to many Nigerians. What we need on the part of government is to continue to support the company to grow,” Abiru added.

In his remarks, Group General Manager, Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited, Hikmat Thapa, thanked the Senate Committee members for taking out time to tour the vehicle assembly plant.

Thapa said the company seeks to meet the growing demand for the automobile industry required for logistics, construction, food & beverage industries in Nigeria to support the government’s efforts to boost economic development across the country.

In his presentation to the Senate Committee members, Assistant Manager, Sinotruk West Africa, Engr. M.J Kogis disclosed that to support the Federal Government’s backward integration drive for Nigerian products, the company is planning a project expansion to enhance value addition and increase local inputs to 40 – 60 per cent within West Africa.

According to him, Sinotruk has installed capacity to assemble and produce 15 – 16 Trucks per shift, equivalent to 10,000 trucks annually, adding that this project aims to generate about 3,000 job opportunities across Nigeria. He added that the company has expanded its original structure to create welding and paint lines to fabricate various truck cabins.

“Aside from creating an ‘All-in-one’ complete assembly system, this expansion project enhances the local content of CKD operation. Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited is the only company with CKD capabilities in West Africa.

The quality products of Sinotruk are of high standard which are reliable and adaptable to any environment, enabling them to stably serve our customers in various climatic environments, working sites, and operational conditions of different countries”, he said.

Kogis identified lack of foreign exchange and unhealthy competition with automobile companies evading government policies and regulations without proper certification for CKD assembly as some of the challenges confronting the company. “Certified automobile companies tend to run at a loss when placed on the same platform of expenditure”, he added.

He urged the Federal Government to review and implement favourable policies towards the development of automobile companies in Nigeria. He also called on the government to provide grants and financial aid through the Bank of Industry (BOI) and direct forex allocation from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the opening of Letters of Credit (L.C.)

Speaking on importance of Dangote Sinotruk on Nigeria’s economic development, Kogis stated: “Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited as a Joint Venture aims to play a strategic and key role in the manufacturing and assembly industry to develop trucks to serve the various logistics needs of the populace. With this goal in mind, we are structured to provide employment opportunities to the masses in line with Dangote Group objectives as well as improve local automobile industry and promote the economic development in Nigeria.”

He said the company has the responsibility to assemble and produce a full range of commercial vehicles covering Heavy-Duty trucks, Medium-Duty trucks, Light Trucks, and other semi-trailers, etc.

He added that company provides employment opportunities to Nigerians, improves the local automobile industry, adds equipment base and achieves technological advancement in Nigeria to promote the economic development in Nigeria

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How Aliko Dangote supported businesses in Nigeria-Sambajo

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President of the Dangote Group Aliko Dangote has been described as a rare gem and kind hearted industrialist for nurturing trading and commercial activities in North and across Nigeria for almost four decades.

Speaking when he visited the Dangote pavilion at the ongoing Kano International Trade Fair, Alhaji Salisu Sambajo, said: “ I can say confidently that Aliko has been supporting us for the past 40 years, and he has lifted us up when our businesses where going under.”

Mr. Sambajo is a Kano based international business tycoon, and chairman of the Sambajo General Enterprises Limited. He’s considered one of the biggest business names in northern Nigeria.

“Aliko’s support in growing commercial activities in the North and all over the nation cannot be quantified. The history of Nigeria’s commerce, and indeed of industrialization, cannot be completed without his name topping the list. It’s only God that can reward him,” he said.

The business mogul added: “I am telling you this confidently because I am one of the beneficiaries of his generosity. No one can deny his kindheartedness and support, and God is with such people.”

He recalled that Mr. Dangote had committed billions of naira through Bank of Industry for the development of small businesses in Nigeria, adding that the Fund was expected to create one million jobs.

The business mogul also recalled that Mr. Dangote had supported the Federal Government with billions of naira during the 2012 flooding in Nigeria.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we read it in the news that Aliko donated billions of naira. All these are coming from one person. Nigeria should be grateful to him,” he said.

He added that: “ Also remember that at the peak of the Boko Haram crisis, Aliko Dangote had donated a housing estate worth billions to the Internally Displaced persons in Borno State. I can go on and on. His interventions are so numerous.”

According to the businessman, “Aliko has since stopped working for himself. All he has been doing is to lift people out of poverty. I remember whenever we recorded losses, Aliko will lift us up again and again. I don’t want to go into specifics. He’s a very kind and generous person. He deserves all our respect and it’s a big honour that God created such a man in Nigeria.”

Mr. Sambajo said it is not for nothing that Mr. Dangote, is Nigeria’s biggest private sector employer.

The business mogul traced relationship with Mr. Dangote to over 40 years, adding that he has been a great philanthropist who has his country and Africa at heart.

Mr. Sambajo described the upcoming Dangote Refinery as a legacy project that will positively impact the country’s economy.

Dangote Group is the major sponsor of the ongoing 44th Kano International Trade Fair.

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Nurturing 30 New Entrepreneurs: Dangote’s Commitment to Nigerian Economy

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The Dangote Cement Plc has announced the creation of 30 new entrepreneurs who are expected to help bolster food production and ginger the Nigerian economy.

The new Chief Executives were graduated weekend following a three-month intensive entrepreneurial and skill acquisition training on poultry farming and business.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had advocated for Public Private Partnership during his speech at the recent Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Plant Director of the Dangote Cement Plc at Obajana in Kogi State, Mr. JV Gungune, said the company’s entrepreneurial scheme is a demonstration of the huge corporate support for government and Nigeria.

The Plant Director who was represented by Engr Wale Adisa, A Senior General Manager, said the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote is one Nigerian who is passionate about Corporate Social Responsibility and philanthropy.

Mr. Gungune told the beneficiaries to leverage on the advantage conferred on them by the scheme, adding that it was a golden opportunity to be selected, trained and empowered.
He said the scheme has become necessary as it was not possible for the company to employ every one.

He said the development was as a result of the peaceful co-existence between the company and the communities, harping on the need for the youth to become skilled, and that the era of certificate was gone.

Representative of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in Kogi State Engr Ezekiel Olufemi Olaitan said the government was happy by the series of economic, social activities, and opportunities created by the Dangote Cement Plc, urging the beneficiaries not to disappoint Nigerians.
In his welcome address, General Manager, Community Relations and Special Duties, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, said the scheme was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), adding that, of the 30 participants, 18 were females and 12 were males.
He said the training was conducted by the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba, on behalf of Dangote Cement Plc.

According to him: “The Dangote Cement PLC, Obajana Plant Empowerment Scheme among many other is aimed at transforming the youth to be skill full, self-reliant and independent. This year 2023 Youth Empowerment Scheme was particularly designed at developing selected youth from each community to be not just farmers in poultry (layer: egg) producer’s but Entrepreneurs in Agricultural Business.

“The programme is equally aimed at eradicating some of the social vices and poverty that have eaten deep into our communities.”

Representative of the Provost of the Kogi State College of Education (Technical), Kabba Dr. Micheal Udoma said the Dangote Cement Plc had empowered the beneficiaries by starter packs, Bags of Grower feed, battery cages, hand gloves, a 60 litre basin, a hand bowl and point of lay birds.

Head of the Dangote Academy, Engr Wale Adedeji advised the new entrepreneurs not to rest on their oars, but keep reinvesting and profit, saying they can learn from the founder of the company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Speaking, the Bajana of Obajana, Dr Idowu Isenibi, expressed optimism that the programme will help in radically transforming the economy of the Obajana communities and Kogi State in general.
In the same vein, the Olu-Apata Dr. Frederick Balogun, thanked the company for the programme, and urged participants to keep investing in the business.
Representative of the graduands, Mr. Alolo Victor Eleojo said they have registered a Cooperative Society to help buoy their financial standing.
“As new CEOs, we have formed a cooperative and do the necessary registrations,” he added.
He promised not to disappoint the Dangote Group and Nigerians as a whole.

Earlier in the cause of the programme starter packs comprising of medications, vitamins, cages, feeds, 50 layers and poultry farms equipment were given to each of the 30 graduands.

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