By Etuka Sunday
President of Dangote Group and Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote has assured distributors of Dangote Cement of job placement opportunities for their relations in the production expansion drive of the company as well as in his other investments in Agric and petrochemical business.
The Company also gave out half year bonus to the distributors whom it promised of more reward for their patronage and loyalty.
Speaking at the weekend at the Ibese, Ogun state while conducting the distributors from the South West on facility tour of the Ibese Plant, Dangote said decision to embark on massive expansion of his cement production capacity, his investments in petroleum refineries and rice farming are for the benefit of the nation and her citizens.
Therefore, he stated that if there people who should benefit from the job opportunities provided by this investments, it should first and foremost go to the distributors who are the strategic integral part of his cement business.
“Please, call our attention, bring the papers of your qualified relations, as we expand and invest in other businesses, you should also enjoy employment opportunities, because we are in cement business because you are with us”, he told them.
Dangote also informed the customers of the ongoing efforts to refine the service being provided for the customers saying going forward the customers would see a change and delivery of the product would be seamless and without hassles.
He took time to answer questions and observations raised by the distributors and who commended the business mogul for his doggedness in investment locally as opposed to others who chose to take money away from the country.
Also speaking, his honorary Adviser, Engineer Joseph Makoju told the distributors that Dangote Cement is more than ready to meet and exceed their expectation saying the production capacity expansion is intended to make cement more available and subsequently bring down the price.
According to him, the Company has put in place certain processes to serve the distributors better than before. He referred to the payment for the bonus at half year instead of yearly as one of the new steps to better serve them.
Makoju to the excitement of the distributors announced the completion of new arrangement for customer service in which the distributors can reach the management twenty hours to lodge complaint and have their complaint attended to promptly.
“This young man started out as trader doing business in cement importation and selling 5000 tons, but today he manufacturing locally from three plants about 20 million tons. He has cement plants in 14 African countries and continues to expand locally, you see his vision for the business and Nigeria.
“what we are trying to do is to ensure that you grow along with us. That is not a bad idea and I think we should commend him for that. Let us know what your problems are, we are ready to solve them immediately. With new production lines now on board in Ibese and Obajana, you can say bye bye to scarcity”, Makoju explained.
It would be recalled that Dangote Cement is adding additional two lines to the present 6 million metric ton capacity per annum at Ibese to shore up its capacity to 12 million while additional 3 million capacity line is being added to Obajana plant to bring total capacity to 13.25 million tons per annum.
Also the Dangote Group signed an MOU with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, a deal that will see Dangote providing N165 billion for rice cultivation in five states as part of he Agric revolution of the transformation agenda of the federal government.
Earlier, Dangote has delved into petrochemical industry signing agreement for fund with banks to set a refinery in Lagos thus making him the first Private Nigerian to obtain license and commence actual construction of the refinery as many who had earlier obtained license for same have failed to commence physical preparation.
