Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has announced his administration’s plan to acquire 100 additional compactor trucks from the Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Ltd CKD Plant to enhance service delivery within the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on during the commissioning of the multi-million dollar world-class Completely Knocked Down (CKD) Plant of by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Sunday.
He emphasised that the products of Dangote Sinotruk are of world-standard, crafted with precision to meet customer satisfaction.
Noting that the state acquired 102 compactor trucks for its waste management authority (LAWMA) in 2022, 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. Dangote Industries Limited is a testament to a good local business that has become a global name. It can compete with other brands globally. It is a brand that all Africans can be proud of. They have kept the vision of this place by ensuring that industry is created, people are employed, and young people are trained,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the state is open to business as the commercial hub of Nigeria, and commended Dangote Group for embracing CNG-powered vehicles, noting that it is cost-effective and promotes cleaner energy.
President/CEO of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, who conducted the leadership of the Senate and executive management of the company around the premises of the facility in Ikeja, Lagos State, stated that the decision to invest in the truck assembly plant is part of his efforts to add value and reduce imports.
He stated 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.
While appreciating the support of strategic stakeholders, including the National Assembly, 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.
Dangote called on other well meaning Nigerians to emulate him, by using their wealth to benefit the nation.
While commissioning the plant, Akpabio, commended the proprietors, saying, “Dangote is Africa’s export to the world.”
He noted that the facility, which creates over 3,000 jobs across Nigeria, aligns with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
Reiterating the Senate leadership’s happiness with the facility, Akpabio assured of federal government’s support for Dangote’s drive to ensure Nigeria attains self-sufficiency in key sectors.
He called on other investors to learn from Dangote, and also challenged other states to provide business-friendly environments for investors.
Speaking, 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 majority of the fabrication and assembly lines are being handled by trained Nigerians, adding 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, food and beverage industries,” he added.
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, which approximately translates to 10,000 trucks annually.
