The upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate, has commended Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited for their efforts in industrial breakthrough, thereby putting Nigeria in the global map.
Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Industry, Senator Shuaibu Lau, gave the commendations on Monday when his committee inspected the Dangote Sinotruk West Africa Limited, Ikeja Assembly plant.
Also part of the vising team were the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, Director, Policy, NADDC, Mr Sani Musa and Deputy Director, Press and Protocol, NADDC, Mrs Felicia Oyebolu.
The committee led by Senator Lau, also had Senator Sadiq Umar, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Ekong Sampson and Senator Benson Agadaga on the inspection team.
Speaking shortly after the inspection tour, Senator Lau said he is impressed with what they saw at the assembly plant.
He said, “Leadership of NASS is ready to push and make Dangote compete with other manufacturers globally.”
Advising the company to make out sourcing of raw materials to local companies, Lau added, “We have listened to some of your challenges. The NASS is ready to help you in terms of legislation and policy formulation that will make you do better.
We will come early next year, while we await for what you want us to do in order to protect you. We are ready to protect you in terms of policy formulation. We thank Dangote for putting Nigeria in the map of industrial nations.
Also commending the company, Senator Ekong Sampson said “I commend Dangote for what he is doing. Dangote has shown enterprise and courage in what he is doing”.
Senator Ekong, however, advised that he would like the company to look at the company’s attitude to their workers and compensation plans in times of injuries and other industrial accidents.
Senator Umeh, who was equally impressed with Dangote, said “I am impressed with what we have seen.
“However, you should be able to put into those lines raw materials from local sources. Part of backward integration should be cutting down what you buy from outside.”
In his remark during the visit, Osanipin pointed out that despite the challenges they are facing, the DSWAL and other manufacturers are still struggling to comply with the expected backward integration policy.
Noting that the visiting team has pointed out areas the assemblers need to adjust, the NADDC DG added “I optimistic that there will be changes when we visit again for another oversight function in the first quarter of next year”.
Other areas the Senate wants Dangote to look at, are in the areas of compliance with backward integration, workers welfare, job creation and outsourcing of raw materials.
