By The multi-million dollar world-class Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Ltd CKD Plant established by the business mogul, Aliko Dangote was has been unveiled with a call on other eminent Nigerians to emulate Mr Aliko Dangote in using their wealth to benefit the nation.
At the unveiling, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced his administration’s plan for the acquisition of an extra 100 compactor trucks from the indigenous automobile manufacturer to enhance service delivery within the state metropolis.
Sanwo-Olu during the commissioning of the Completely Knocked Down (CKD) Plant of the facility by the President of the Senate, Mr Godswill Akpabio emphasised that the products of Dangote Sinotruk are of world-standard, crafted with precision to meet customer satisfaction.
President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Aliko Dangote, who conducted the leadership of the Upper Chamber and executive management of the company around the premises of the Dangote facility in Ikeja, Lagos, stated that the decision to invest in the truck assembly plant is part of his strategies to add value and reduce imports.
He added that the plant will fabricate diverse types of trailers and tipper bodies with the goal of achieving domestic self-sufficiency and serving the West African regional market.
“We are playing a strategic and key role in developing the heavy-duty truck assembling and manufacturing industry in Nigeria. We are providing employment opportunities for Nigerians as well as improving the local automobile industry.
“We will continue to invest in the plant and achieve technological advancement for Nigeria. We will continue to promote Nigeria’s economic development,” he said.
Dangote said Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited is set to write the next chapter in Nigeria’s industrialisation story as well as drive progress across West Africa for a brighter and more prosperous future.
He noted that the state acquired 102 compactor trucks for its Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in 2022, Governor Sanwo-Olu hailed Dangote for the remarkable transformation of the facility from a dormant textile mill to a thriving vehicle assembly plant.
“Honestly, this is about partnership. It is about a sense of purpose and the fact that as a people, we need to develop our economy and our environment better than we met it.
They have kept the vision of this place by ensuring that industry is created, people are employed, and young people are trained,” he said.
During the plant’s commissioning, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, commended the proprietors, stressing that ‘Dangote is Africa’s export to the world’.
Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited, a joint venture company with a total investment of $100 million, boasts cutting-edge facilities and machinery, enabling it to achieve a production capacity of 15-16 trucks per shift, or approximately 10,000 trucks annually.
However, the Chief Executive Officer of the facility, Hikmat Thapa, said the capacity will be scaled up to 13,000 trucks annually with the commissioning of the new CKD plant.
He also affirmed that the majority of the fabrication and assembly lines are being handled by trained Nigerians. He stated that the vision of the plant is to assemble and produce a full range of commercial vehicles tailored to the specific needs of the market.
“From heavy-duty trucks to medium trucks, light trucks, and semi-trailers, our aim is to meet the growing demand for reliable transportation across various sectors, including logistics, construction, and food and beverage industries,” he added.
