Dangote puts Nigeria on the world map

Posted by admin Headlines Monday, June 15th, 2020

Dangote Cement export terminal at Apapa Port

“Today, we have formally launched the Dangote Cement Export Terminal. We are still going to do another major launch when the second ship is going out of the country,” he added.

Alhaji Sada recalled that only a few years ago, Nigeria was one of the world’s largest bulk importers of cement.

“Dangote has gradually made Nigeria self-sufficient in cement production as well as an exporter of clinker to other countries”, he said.

He disclosed that the company would also be launching its export terminal in Onne in the next few days.

The new export terminal would enable the company export clinker, initially to its grinding facility in Cameroon and then to new grinding plants the company is building across West Africa.

He explained that not only would this generate useful foreign currency for Dangote Cement to support other expansion projects outside Nigeria, it would also help to increase the output of the Nigerian plants.

He said these would help to improve job creation and increase prosperity in Nigeria.

“This terminal will assist Dangote to actualise the full potential of the company’s investment in cement. You know as usual, when the rain comes, sales decline, but not clinker export.

“This feat by Dangote is going to generate a lot of jobs because the Export Terminal has already created jobs to many Nigerians.

“As at now, the numbers of employed Nigerians at the terminal have reached 100. We are targeting about 200 to 300 workers in Lagos Terminal alone.

“But, apart from job creation opportunities, the exportation of clinker by Dangote will position the country to participate fully in the Africa Free Trade Liberalisation Agreement when it comes into being, so that Nigeria will be protected against foreign products.

“It will also help the country compete effectively with every country that are in the business of exportation of clinker. At Dangote Cement, we are going about it aggressively and we are seeing it as an opportunity.”

Alhaji Sada said the company has also concluded plans to increase its clinker and cement export to other countries.

“This vessel, being the maiden ship is exporting 27,800 metric tonnes to Senegal and this is just a tip of the ice-berg as to what we have in plan.

“What we have in plan is to send clinker from Nigeria to Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana. Cameroon as an example, takes about 82,000 metric tonnes every month.

“Our target is to export at least 4 million metric tonnes of clinker annually to various parts of Africa.

“That is our target that we hope to achieve within the next one to two years.

“This particular voyage is going to our sister company in Senegal. We have an integrated plant of 1.5 million tonnes and this one is expected to give the plant additional clinker that is required for the plant to sustain production.

“In the next one week or two, we are going to be shipping 82,000 metric tonnes to Cameroon in batches of about 25,000 to 29,000 metric tonnes per voyage,” he added.

Speaking on Dangote’s achievement, the Acting Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Chuma Oruche praised Aliko Dangote for leading the way in the export of product from Nigeria to other countries.

According to him, this feat by Dangote Cement is capable of boosting Nigeria’s foreign earning and reduce unemployment in the country.

He said: “The export of clinker by Dangote Cement at the weekend will definitely be beneficial to Nigerian economy in terms of export earnings, job creation and wealth creation for families connected with these achievements.”

Dangote Cement has put Nigeria on the world map with the exportation of 27,800 metric tonnes of clinker to a neighbouring African country, reaffirming its status as Africa’s biggest cement producer.

With this historic maiden voyage from its Export Terminal in Lagos Apapa Port at the weekend, Dangote has made Nigeria an exporter of cement clinker to other countries.

The exportation of clinker from the Dangote Cement Export Terminal will also place Nigeria as one of the leading clinker exporters in the world.

The company is expected to increase the quantity of clinker export to other African countries within the next few weeks, it was further learnt.

PM Newswp_posts