…….Dangote Cement Boosts SME Development in Nigeria with Power Infrastructure Support
Participants at the 2024 Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF) have been flocking to the Dangote Group pavilion, eager to learn more about the company’s cutting-edge oil refinery, which has recently commenced the discharge of petroleum products. Dangote Group, a major sponsor of the 19th edition of the Trade Fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), has drawn significant attention with its diverse business units, including Dangote Fertilizer, Dangote Sugar, NASCON (Dangote Salt), and Dangote Cement.
Many visitors, including entrepreneurs like block molder Peter Ibrahim, expressed curiosity about the opportunities available at the refinery. “I am here at the Dangote booth to find out what business and job opportunities are available at the Dangote Refinery. We know the company must have created several opportunities,” Ibrahim stated.
Cement dealer Sale Sagir shared similar sentiments, saying, “I came to this Trade Fair because of Dangote Group. I sell cement, but now I want to explore becoming a distributor of Dangote petroleum products.”
This year’s Trade Fair, themed “Mobility Options for Transportation, Trade Financing, and Taxation,” highlighted Dangote Group’s contributions to Nigeria’s economy. Speaking on the company’s Special Day, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Senior Adviser to the Group President on Special Projects and Strategic Relations, emphasized Dangote’s role in transportation, trade financing, and taxation. She detailed the group’s construction of a jetty in the Lekki Free Zone, which facilitated the import of heavy equipment during the refinery’s construction.
“Today, we export products to several African countries through the same port and plan to ease road pressure by transporting petroleum products via sea routes to other ports along the Nigerian coast,” Wali-Abdurrahman explained.
She also noted that Dangote Group is making significant strides in sustainability by investing in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and converting a third of its fleet to CNG to reduce its carbon footprint and operating costs. The company is equally expanding into agriculture, with new products set to hit the market soon.
ACCI President Chief Emeka Obegolu, represented by Aisha Ado Abdullahi, Vice President Legal, praised Dangote Group for its pivotal role in Nigeria’s industrialization. He lauded the group’s tax contributions, which have bolstered national revenues, infrastructure, and social programs.
In the same vein, in a move to strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, has handed over a 33KV public electricity power line and transformer to Jakura Marble Industry Ltd (JMIL) in Kogi State. The power infrastructure, extending over 5 km from Oyo community to JMIL’s facility, will provide reliable electricity to support its operations.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Engr. Azad Nawabuddin, Plant Director of Dangote Cement Plc, emphasized the project’s significance, stating, “The new infrastructure will enable JMIL to access consistent public electricity, reduce operational costs, and increase production capacity. It will also facilitate future expansion and create job opportunities.”
Nawabuddin reiterated Dangote Cement’s commitment to supporting SMEs, particularly in its host communities, and highlighted the mutual benefits of fostering strong partnerships. He expressed the company’s willingness to collaborate on further initiatives that would positively impact the community and enhance youth development.
Engr. Tony Ojile, Managing Director of JMIL, expressed his gratitude to Dangote Industries Ltd and Group President Alhaji Aliko Dangote for their support. He acknowledged the company’s role in advancing Nigeria’s industrial growth and applauded the timely completion of the electrification project.
Following the ceremony, both Dangote Cement and JMIL management teams conducted a site inspection of the power lines and exchanged official handover documents at the transformer location. Nawabuddin also toured JMIL’s facilities to gain deeper insights into their operations.
