Dangote Pavilion Draws Crowds at Abuja Trade Fair with Refinery Showcase
Jerry Adesewo
The Dangote Group’s pavilion at the 2024 Abuja International Trade Fair has been a major attraction as participants flock to inquire about the company’s latest ventures, particularly its state-of-the-art oil refinery, which recently began discharging petroleum products. The Dangote Group, one of the key sponsors of the 19th Trade Fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), is showcasing its diverse business units including Dangote Fertilizer, Dangote Sugar, NASCON (Dangote Salt), and Dangote Cement.
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Participants have expressed keen interest in exploring the opportunities Dangote’s new refinery presents. Peter Ibrahim, a block moulder, remarked, “I am here to learn about the job and business opportunities available at the Dangote Refinery. We know they must have created several opportunities.”
Cement dealer Sale Sagir also shared his interest, stating, “I came to this Trade Fair specifically for Dangote Group. I sell cement, but now I want to find out how I can become a distributor of their other products, especially the Dangote petroleum products.”
Themed “Mobility Options for Transportation, Trade Financing, and Taxation,” this year’s trade fair focuses on enhancing Nigeria’s economy through key sectors.
Speaking during the company’s Special Day at the fair, Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Senior Adviser to the Group President on Special Projects and Strategic Relations, highlighted how Dangote Group continues to play a vital role in boosting the Nigerian economy through investments in transportation, trade financing, and taxation.
She noted that the construction of the Dangote Refinery required the building of a jetty in Lekki Free Zone to handle bulk cargo imports, including some of the world’s largest cranes. “Today, we are exporting products to various African countries through this port,” she added. Dangote Group also plans to ease road traffic by transporting finished petroleum products by sea for distribution across Nigeria’s coastal regions.
Wali-Abdurrahman further emphasized Dangote’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through investments in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), noting that a third of the company’s fleet has already been converted, with plans to convert the entire fleet.
Dangote Cement Empowers SMEs in Nigeria
In a related development, Dangote Cement Plc’s Obajana Plant has enhanced its support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria by handing over a 33kV public electricity power line and transformer to Jakura Marble Industry Ltd (JMIL) in Kogi State. The newly extended high-tension power line spans over 5 km from Oyo community to JMIL’s facility, significantly reducing their energy costs and boosting production capacity.
Plant Director, Engr. Azad Nawabuddin, emphasized that the new infrastructure would provide JMIL with reliable electricity and create opportunities for future expansion and job creation. He also reiterated Dangote Cement’s commitment to supporting SMEs, particularly those in host communities and contributing to Nigeria’s industrialization.
JMIL’s Managing Director, Engr. Tony Ojile, expressed gratitude to Dangote Industries and its Group President, Aliko Dangote, praising their contributions to Nigeria’s development and commitment to corporate social responsibility. Ojile noted that the timely delivery of the electrification project would significantly impact JMIL’s operations and local employment.
The handover ceremony was followed by a site visit, where the management teams of Dangote Cement and JMIL reviewed the high-tension power lines and exchanged official documents at the transformer location.
Both initiatives underscore Dangote Group’s strategic role in driving economic growth and industrial development in Nigeria through innovative infrastructure projects, SME support, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.