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Tag: Dangote

  • Dilapidated port roads: NPA, Dangote, others to raise N4.3bn for reconstruction

    Dilapidated port roads: NPA, Dangote, others to raise N4.3bn for reconstruction

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said it would raise N4.3 billion to reconstruct access roads around Apapa Port as port operators withdrew services over poor infrastructure.

    The Managing Director of NPA, Ms Hadiza Usman, told a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Monday that NPA would provide N1.8 billion while Dangote Group and Flour Mills would provide N2.5 billion.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) had on Sunday given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to rehabilitate and make the Oshodi-Apapa Dual Carriage Way and the access roads leading to the nation’s sea ports motorable.

    In Usman words: “We have received proposal for Corporate Social Responsibility of N2.5 billion from Dangote Group and Flour Mills for the full reconstruction of port roads.

    “The reconstruction entails full drainage service and the total cost of the Apapa port access roads project is N4.3 billion.

    “The two entities are willing to provide N2.5 billion, while NPA will pay the remaining N1.8 billion to ensure that the roads are done,” Usman said.

    The NPA boss said that the reconstruction would begin within one month, adding that she would ensure speedy completion of the project.

    She said that the Federal Ministry of Works would request the approval of Federal Executive Council to obtain the necessary approvals for NPA to embark of the project.

    Usman said NPA has asked the Federal Ministry of Works to provide the final engineering design and costing to enable it embark on reconstruction of the Creek road and Liverpool road later this year.

    “I feel concerned about the deplorable state of these roads and I communicated at a meeting with the minister that we are willing to fund these roads irrespective of which agency of government is doing it, she said.

    Usman said that the management of NPA would make provision for an annual budget for the reconstruction of the roads.

    She urged the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently complete the reconstruction of Coconut/Mile 2 road in Lagos.

    Usman said that NPA would seek permission of the Federal Ministry of Works to complete the holding bay under the Public Private Partnership arrangement.

    According to the NPA boss, the congestion around Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports was due to lack of an effective holding bay, trailer parks and non-reconstruction of ports roads in Lagos.

    Usman commended the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, for dialoging with port operators who had protested poor infrastructure at the port.

    Speaking earlier, Bello stressed the need for regular dialogue with stakeholders on issues militating against port operations.

    He pleaded with the port operators to suspend the withdrawal of their services and await the outcome of the initiatives of the NPA management.

    Also speaking, the Chairman Corporate Fleet Truck Association, Mrs Folake Soji-George, urged NPA to compel security agencies to stop tanker drivers from using one-way roads.

    Soji-George said that security agencies should be committed to their duties by ensuring free flow of traffic to reduce the time of doing business at the ports.

    Mr Kayode Farinto, National Publicity Secretary, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), urged government agencies to address the issue of multiple charges by the customs.

     

     

     

     

    NAN

  • World Malaria Day: US names Yari, Dangote Ambassadors in Nigeria

    The United States has announced Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State and President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote as its Malaria Fight Ambassadors in Nigeria.

    The recognition, bestowed on the recipients on Monday, was jointly organized by the United States International Development Agency (USAID), the US President’s Malaria Initiative in Nigeria and the United States Mission in Nigeria.

    Yari was named along with Alhaji Aliko Dangote as the ambassadors of Malaria fight for 2016 in Public and Private Sectors respectively, at this Year’s World Malaria Day in recognition of their contributions to the fight against Malaria in Nigeria.

    The event took place at the Embassy of the United States of America in Abuja and was witnessed by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewale; the Deputy Head of US Mission in Nigeria, Mr. David Young and Head of the USAID.

    The recipients in separate goodwill messages, expressed their appreciation over the efforts of the United States Government, the USAID and the PMI in the fight against Malaria.


    Yari urged President Trump of the United States to consider the American Interest in the Developing Nations as key and strategic to the US economic and other humanitarian development policies.

    Yari said: “As leader of the world, there is greater need for the government of the United States of America and President Donald Trump to consider other countries, particularly countries with US interest in the US economic and humanitarian development policies.”

    The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum said the NGF will continue to collaborate with the US Government and other Donor Agencies in the fight against Malaria and other diseases in Nigeria.

    Yari also expressed delight over an official declaration at the occasion that, Zamfara is 0.9% of HIV/AIDS Infection.

    He said since he came on board as the Governor of the State in 2011, he adopted a holistic approach to the fight against HIV/AIDS, involving Traditional Rulers, politicians, Government Officials, and Professionals.

    Yari explained further that part of his administration’s strategy include adhering to the advice by the professionals, and the International Donor Agencies.

  • Dangote Refinery, Petrochemical Company to enlist on NSE soon

    Dangote Refinery, Petrochemical Company to enlist on NSE soon

    President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Monday promised the listing of companies under the Dangote Group of companies on the nation’s bourse.

    The companies include Refinery and Petrochemical.

    Dangote stated this at the bell ringing ceremony on the NSE in Lagos as part of activities to mark his 60th birthday.

    He said that he would ensure the listing of more of his companies on the NSE to deepen the market.

    Dangote assured the stock broking community that he would continue to work with the Federal Government to diversify the economy and spread prosperity among Nigerians.

    “We will continue work with the federal government to diversify the economy and spread prosperity to Nigerians,’’ he said.

    He promised to list every single company that would be created by Dangote Group of companies.

    “Very soon, we will start having our Annual General Meetings (AGM) in stadium, not halls due to the large shareholders we will be targeting. We will be having up to two million shareholders in the next ten years,” he said.

    He, however, commended the stock broking community for their support to Dangote Group, noting that they had contributed to the growth of the entity.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four companies of Dangote listed on the NSE have a total market capitalisation of N2.9 trillion as at April 10.

    This represents 32.7 per cent of the total capitalisation of the equities listed on the Nigerian bourse.

    Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the former President, Association of Stock broking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON) described Dangote as an important stakeholder in the Nigerian capital market.

    “His decision to celebrate his birthday with the capital market community is a testimony to the mutually beneficial relationship to which has been involved over the years between Dangote, brokers and capital market in generally,” Yussuf said.

    He said that the tenure of Dangote as the president of NSE was the most challenging period for the capital market due to serious management succession crisis and ravaging margin loan crisis.

    “Dangote worked tirelessly with ASHON, leveraging on his contacts to make presentation to the various level of government functionality, CBN, among others.

    “This culminated in the setting up of Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) and eventual resolution of the margin loan problems,” he added.

    He noted further that if the margin loan crisis had not been resolved the way it was, the collateral damage on the operators and the market would have been enormous.

    Yussuf added that as a strong promoter of local content development in Nigeria, Dangote took the pioneering step of listing most of his companies on the floor of NSE, substantially deepening the market.

    Yussuf said that the listed companies of Dangote constituted a reasonable percentage of equities on the nation’s bourse.

     

     

    NAN

  • Dangote @ 60: You are an inspiration to many – Tinubu

    Dangote @ 60: You are an inspiration to many – Tinubu

    Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Sunday congratulated astute businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on his 60th birthday, describing him as an inspiration to many people.

    In a congratulatory message, Tinubu commended the business mogul for his boldness and bravery in taking the business risks, which he said have now paid off.

    The All Progressives National Congress (APC) national leader said Dangote has broken all business barriers and had helped to industrialise Africa, with the operations of his Dangote Group in 17 African countries and beyond.

    ”Dear Alhaji Dangote, my family and I congratulate you on your 60th birthday coming up tomorrow, April 10.

    “Your life has been an inspiration to many. From a lowly background, you rose to the top by hard work and perseverance.

    ”You have shown that with resilience, we can always convert risks and challenges to opportunities.

    ”Today, you are that African man that has broken all barriers. With operations in over 17 African countries including Nigeria, the awesome Dangote Group you established is helping to industrialise Africa.

    ”You have made people and made lives a lot better through the employment opportunities you have created and your other humanitarian activities.

    “I wish you many more years in life. I pray that Allah grants all you need to continue to impact the lives of many more people, ” he said.

     

     

  • Tambuwal, Dangote flag off rice outgrowers scheme in Sokoto

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal along with the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Wednesday flagged off a rice outgrowers’ scheme which will cover 25,000 hectres of farmland across some selected local government areas of Sokoto state.

    Speaking at the site of the event which held in Goronyo Dam, Dangote said the project will within the next three years produce at least one million tonne of high quality parboiled rice for Nigerian market.

    He said to achieve this, his company plans to cultivate 160,000 hectres of irrigable rice farmland in selected states, including Sokoto, which will be cultivated to grow paddy during two cropping-season per year.

    “With this, we hope to achieve a minimum yield of five to six tonnes per hectre. Our plans is to off-take not less that 80 percent of the paddy produced by the outgrowers. We will also develop our own farm operations to include seed multiplication capabilities,” he added.

    According to him, Dangote Rice Limited aims to boost the local economy, create jobs along the value and make a significant contribution to the transformation of subsistence farms into market-oriented agribusinesses.

    In his remarks, Tambuwal commended Dangote for siting the project in Sokoto State, saying the renewed efforts of his administration in the sector has started yielding the desired result.

    The Governor said education and agriculture have remained the two top sectors in the priority list in the state in the last two years, revealing that this year, Sokoto has allocated more to agriculture than all states of the federation.

    “We have had series of visits to different countries and signed various MoUs with many organisations and entities, Dangote inclusive, with a view to uplifting agriculture in the state.

    “So the Dangote Rice Project in Sokoto State will not only provide food security and employment to our teeming unemployed youths, it would ensure the overall development of agricultural activities in the state,” he added.

    Tambuwal assured that all necessary incentives have been put in place to ensure smooth operation of the scheme.

    In his remarks, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, urged the people to embrace this opportunity to improve their farming technique and standards of living.

    He said the people of Sokoto are grateful for the opportunity and will mobilise needed resources to ensure its success.

  • Dangote rewards loyal distributors with N2bn cash gift

    Distributors of the Dangote foods companies, including Dangote Flour, Sugar and Salt smiled home on Monday as the management of the Companies released over N2 billion as rewards for their loyalty to the companies over the past one year.

    At a colourful Gala night where the distributors were hosted, top performers in each of the six geo-political zones as well as national leading distributors were duly recognised with plagues and cash rewards of varying amounts.

    President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the recognition and cash rewards was in the character of the Companies management to appreciate their loyalty customers who stood by the organizations through thick and thin.

    He explained that the management hold their distributors in high esteem because they are the reason for the success recorded by them in 2016 despite the economic challenges and the difficult operating environment businesses found themselves.

    “Our achievements would not have been possible without you. You stood by us through thick and thin. We appreciate the confidence reposted in us to serve you. We came into these businesses at a time Nigerians have preferences for imported foreign foods, even if inferior.

    “Because you are behind us we have succeeded and today we take the lead while others follow in ensuring we domesticated all our production processes and by so doing good creating jobs locally”

    Dangote informed the distributors of his Group’s venture into rice production saying it is a very ambitious project and that in two years’ time, Dangote Rice limited item will be churning out one million tonnes.

    He stated that mission of Dangote rice is to wipe out all imported rice from the homes of Nigerians noting that by the time Dangote rice comes on stream, “Nigerians would not talk about Thai rice again, because our rice will be finer than imported ones”

    While urging the customers to remain committed and loyal to Dangote products, he promised that the managements of the food companies under Dangote Group would double the over N2billion billion given out as rewards.

    Dangote disclosed the food companies would replicate the same achievement recorded in cement industry through backward integration such that every components of their production processes would be domesticated to ensure all the products are available in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria and at the same price.

    Also speaking, the Executive Director of Dangote Flour, Hajiya Halima Aliko-Dangote said what the companies did was just a token of appreciation for the volume sales recorded by the distributors despite the economic doldrum.

    She stated that the managements were encourage by the loyalty of the distributors to continue to invest in innovation and research extensively on how to make their products more consumer friendly continuously in line with the realities of the time.

    In his address of welcome email earlier, Chairman of the Dangote Flour, Mr. Asue Ighodalo said the distributors have proven to be dependable allies with their patronage of Dangote products and loyal to the brands in all circumstances.

    The Dangote Flour boss said 2016 was in it deed a difficult years for most businesses saying some closed down, some scaled down their operations and in the process retrenchment their staff. Dangote food companies rather absorbed the substantial higher cost of inputs so that the customers would remain in profitable business

    “However, it is to your credits our dear distributors that in that particular challenging year, Dangote Food companies waxed stronger, produced more, sold, more and gave returns to all stakeholders hence our gathering together tonight. Tonight is your night, and tonight is your day”, he stated.

    He said no region in the country did not do well and that is why the companies are happy to reward them bountifully. Ighodalo challenged them not to rest on their oars but strive to sell more.

     

  • Dangote to launch 25,000 hectares of rice outgrower sheme in Sokoto

    Dangote to launch 25,000 hectares of rice outgrower sheme in Sokoto

    The Dangote Group has announced that its subsidiary, Dangote Rice is set to launch a multi-million naira 25,000 hectares of rice outgrower scheme in Sokoto with a prospect of hundreds of thousands of employment opportunities for the rural communities inhabitants.

    President of the Group, Aliko Dangote disclosed at the weekend that the Company will on Wednesday, flag off with a pilot project of 500 ha by Gonroyo dam, in Goronyo community.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Gonroyo dam is the second largest in the country, after Kainji.

    The flag off ceremony which will be performed by the governor of the state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwa will witness seedlings being distributed to the primary local farmers who will in turn plant the seed after which Dangote Rice company will purchase from them for milling and final processing.

    Sokoto state is the second after Jigawa out of the 14 states spread across the state where Dangote Rice plans to operate outgrower scheme to empower local farmers and create job opportunities for community dwellers and reduce migration to the cities.

    Dangote Rice projects in the 14 states, when, operational, will generate a significant number of jobs and increase take-home income for smallholder farmers, all while diversifying Nigeria’s economy and reducing the nation’s food import bill.

    Statistics from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) estimates that rice demand in Nigeria reached 6.3 million MT in 2015, with only 2.3 million MT of that demand satisfied by local production.

    This local production shortfall leaves a gap of 4.0 million MT that is currently being filled through formal importation of rice or illegal imports over land borders.

    By year-end 2017, Dangote Rice plans to produce 225,000 MT of parboiled, milled white rice. This will allow us to satisfy 4% of the total market demand within 1 year. Our model can then be successfully scaled to produce 1,000,000 MT of milled rice in order to satisfy 16% of the domestic market demand for rice over the next 5 years.

    By end of 2017, Dangote Rice will have 25,000 Ha under rice cultivation across 3 sites in Northern Nigeria having identified rice-growing communities in Jigawa State (5,000 Ha), Sokoto State (10,000 Ha) and Zamfara State (10,000 Ha).

     

  • Recession: Dangote explores investment opportunities in Zambia

    Recession: Dangote explores investment opportunities in Zambia

    In what seems like searching for greener pastures, the President of the Dangote Group and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has expressed the desire of his group to further consolidate on his existing investments in Zambia and other African countries by exploring opportunities in the energy and agriculture sectors.

    Dangote spoke at the weekend when he paid a courtesy call on President Edgar Lungu of Zambia to express his gratitude for the enabling environment that the country continued to offer investors at every level.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the business mogul has a cement factory running in Zambia in which several hundreds of Zambia residents are gainfully employed.

    Dangote advocated for a more business friendly environment in the country in order to facilitate development and the employment of its teeming youths.

    In his words: “I am here not only to explore investment opportunities and consolidate our existing business relations, but also to congratulate your Excellency for your victory in the last general elections. I wish you many years of success as you guide your nation to greater heights and prosperity,” he told President Lungu.

    “During your tenure, you need to implement agricultural practices which will ensure that yields per hectare are high and competitive. Zambia’s natural advantage in the export market is the readily available captive market that consists of eight neighbouring countries and other nations in the great lakes region,” he said.

    Dangote observed that energy is a critical requirement for economic development and so it is important that Zambia expands its energy supply footprint both for local consumption, and export to regional markets.

    “We are going to explore investment opportunities in the energy sector and perhaps look at the viability of existing petroleum refinery facilities”, he added.

    President Lungu said his government was determined to put in place policies that will be investor friendly and guarantee conducive and enabling environment for the businesses to thrive.

    He then instructed the Minister of Finance and all relevant government ministries and agencies to ensure that the process of facilitating investments in job-creation enterprises is efficient.

    “Agriculture is the major thrust in Zambia’s economic diversification drive and among our top priorities, which include the provision of affordable food, fuel and farmer inputs.

    “I admire your tenacity and commitment to invest within Africa because that is what improves the brotherhood between nations. We will support you and facilitate your investments in Zambia,” assured the President, adding that, “we need to put our hands together to help our people out of poverty”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the billionaire businessman is also renowned for his philanthropy and enormous investment drive across the continent.

  • Dangote tomatoes factory set to resume production February

    Dangote tomatoes factory set to resume production February

     

    The Dangote Tomatoes Processing Factory in Kadawa, Kura Local Government Area of Kano State is set to resume production in February.

    The company, which began production in Feb. 2016, had to suspend operation due to lack of enough raw materials.

    The Managing Director of the company, Alh. Abdulkadir Kaita, disclosed this in an interview with the newsmen on Tuesday in Kano.

    He added that preparation for production to resume was at an advanced stage.

    Kaita said that the company had to suspend production, when most of the tomato farms in about five states were affected by a pest, which destroyed all the tomato species.

    “We expect that tomato farmers would have produced enough for the company to process, hence our decision to resume production in February,’’ he said.

    According to him, many tomato farmers at the Kadawa, Kura, Garun-Malam and Hadeja-Jama’are irrigation sites are expected to produce enough for the company to process.

    “We deliberately decided to resume production in February because we don’t want to create scarcity of the commodity.

    “We want to make sure that there is enough to process so that its price will not go up,” Kaita said.

    He said that the company which had the capacity to process 40 trucks or 1,200 tonnes of fresh tomatoes per day, would soon begin recruitment of additional staff.

    “All our trained staff are still with us and we are paying them salary but if there is need to recruit additional staff, we will do so to ensure effective service delivery,’’ he said.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Dangote, Trump, Putin, others make list of Forbes world’s most powerful persons

    Africa’s richest person and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has been named along other world leaders in Forbes recent list of world’s most powerful persons.

    Other world leaders who made the new Forbes list are Russian President, Vladimir Putin; American President-elect of the United States of America, Donald Trump; and German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.

    They were ranked along with 70 others as the most powerful people by Forbes Magazine, with Dangote ranked as the second most powerful on the African continent.

    In the new list, Dangote was named 68th coming ahead of Trump. Recall that Dangote has remained a constant item on the Forbes list since 2013 when he was listed as the only black African among 100 most powerful persons on the planet.

    Forbes, in the latest edition of its 74 World Most Powerful People released at the weekend, listed the 64-year-old Putin as the most powerful in the world, ahead of Trump.

    While Merkel was ranked as the third most powerful person in the world, out-going American President, Barack Obama, placed 48th on the list.

    The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, is the fifth most powerful person, while the world’s richest person, Bill Gates, comes seventh. Chinese President, Xi Jinping comes before the Pope in number four, while the Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, is the number 10 most powerful person in the world.

    Forbes reports that there are nearly 7.4 billion people on planet earth, but that the listed 74 men and women make the world turn.

    As of 2013, Dangote was the only African listed among the most powerful people in the world before the Egyptian President recently featured on the list.