…begins fertiliser export to US, France, others
The President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that the conglomerate has invested over $700m in sugar production, in order to end raw sugar importation into the country.
Dangote, who made the disclosure in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital on Wednesday during the ‘Dangote Special Day’ at the ongoing 14th Gateway International Trade Fair, put together by OGUNCCIMA, said the $700 million was committed in land acquisition, machinery, infrastructure, manpower and other impactful activities to boost local production of sugar”.
Represented by the Regional Director Lagos/Ogun Dangote Cement, Tunde Mabogunje, the business mogul noted that Dangote Sugar as a leading brand has made a remarkable impact on the Nigerian sugar sector.
He said, “the company is committed to ensuring that Nigeria ends the importation of raw sugar into the country by actively intensifying its execution of the Sugar Backward Integration.
“In this regard, it has committed over $700 million in land acquisition, machinery, infrastructure, manpower, community relations, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other impactful activities.
“Similarly, to support the government in food security, we are also investing in the agricultural sector. These agricultural products will soon be in the market.”
He explained that Dangote Group has equally began exportation of fertiliser to France, USA, Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina and to some other African countries, which include Republic of Benin, Zambia, Cameroon among others.
Dangote said that its refinery has also exported refined petroleum to several countries while its investment in cement production in Nigeria including over 10 African countries has helped in export financing with several bags of cement being exported from Nigeria to the other countries.
He explained that as a conglomerate driving the diversification of Nigeria’s economy, it will continue to explore opportunities in the manufacturing sector that will produce goods that are usually imported, and in the process create more jobs for the growing youth population.
He said “our expectations therefore are that through this trade fair, we will be able to expand awareness for our innovative products, generate sales, get prospective buyers, improve the image of our brands and open new markets that will further translate to job creation and overall economic development.
“We are confident that this longstanding partnership with OGUNCCIMA will not only be beneficial to both of us, but to Nigeria, and indeed the African economy as a whole.”
Speaking at the programme, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Oludaisi Elemide, commended Dangote Group for its various interventions and urged the company to improve on its environmental friendliness.
He stated that the nation would be in a much better economic position if more entrepreneurs like Dangote existed.
“There is no doubt that Alhaji Aliko Dangote has contributed immensely to the economic well-being of this country with his investments across various sectors. No household in this country is without at least one Dangote product. I buy Dangote salt, and it is what I like and use in my house and on my farm,” Elemide stated.
He urged Dangote to continue investing in critical sectors of the economy, just as he has done in the oil and gas sector with the world-class petroleum refinery. “I urge others to emulate him and imbibe his patriotism,” the Speaker said.
