Dangote Cement way ahead of competition in quality, volume, automation, says GMD
Rising from a recent partnership visit and facility tour of Ibese Cement Plant of the Company in Ogun state with top officials of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), the Group of Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Engr. Joseph Makoju has revealed that “Dangote Cement is way ahead of competition in quality, volume production size and production automation”.
He was quick to link the feat to the results of continuous investments by the management, saying the investments of the foremost indigenous cement company and its expansion drive across African countries were very strategic to contribute to Africa economy and make its products the most preferred by consumers.
Represented by the Dangote Cement National Sales and Distribution Director, Adeyemi Fajobi, the GMD disclosed that “besides the investments in expansion to ramp up volume, such investments have added value to the economies of the African countries where the company has presence”.
“To date, Dangote Cement operates in 14 countries in Africa with efforts on to expand to other three within the next few months to make its presence felt in 17 countries. The ultimate aim, he stated is to help other African countries to attain self-sufficiency.
According to him, “In the last ten years, Dangote cement has embarked on aggressive expansion drive which has seen it having an annual production of cement to the tune of over 29 million in its three production plants in Ibese, Obajana and Gboko thus effectively eliminating importation of cement.
“Besides our continuous expansion, we also export to counties like Ghana, Benin and Togo. These are sources foreign exchange for our dear nation. Where ever we operate we operate as economic partners because we add value to the economy by creating employments.
“Our commitment is not only to meet production target but quality and safety standard in our operations and this is one of the reasons we partner the regulatory agencies like the SON to devise means of keep up the standard and raising the bar where necessary.”
On how the company suppressed fakery of the product, Makoju revealed that the scourge was effectively checked through its expansion of volume availability, saying adulteration and faking of products thrive where the original products are not easily available.
Earlier in his remarks, the General Manager, Production, Ibese Cement, Engr. Sunday Adondua explained that Dangote Cement has gone far in its quest to lead in cement manufacturing in Africa and was happy to note that the company now exports Klinker, a major cement production component to some African countries.
Responding after the tour, the Director-General of SON, Chief Osita Anthony Akpoloma, represented by Group Head, Building and Civil, Joseph Ugbaja said the partnership with the Dangote Cement was for the good of the industry and that so far Dangote cement has been a leading light in the cement sector of the built industry.
He revealed that SON has also certified Dangote Cement products on the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme which is an attestation to its goods product quality and the capacity to conduct in-process test and in-house test on its finished products in conformity with the standards.
