Dangote Group buys 3,500 trucks assembled by Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company

AFRICA'S richest man Aliko Dangote has entered into a long-term agreement with Enugu automobile supplier Transit Support Services for the supply of 3,500 Shacman trucks being assembled at the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company's (Anammco) Enugu factory.

By far Nigeria's largest commodity company with a major presence in cement and sugar, Dangote Industries needs trucks to ferry its products around Nigeria. Transit Support Services distributes trucks and vehicles assembled at the Anammco factory in Emene, near Enugu to clients across Nigeria.

Dangote Industries has purchased 3,500 trucks from the automaker worth N63bn, according Transit Support Services managing director Frank Nneji. He added that said the supplies amounted to over 90% of all Shackman trucks assembled at the factory since the revival of the plant after a long period of abandonment.

Mr Nneji said: “About 90% of trucks produced here are for Dangote. Right now at the dump, we have about 300 units.

"Since last year, we have done 800 units and Dangote Group since inception has bought about 3,500 units from us. It also patronises the Shackman trucks for its refinery currently being built in Lagos."

He said the project had also kept busy the Onne port, which was dormant for many years. According to Mr Nneji, the port is used for the delivery of vehicle components supplied to the Anammco plant by its partner from China, the Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Import & Export Company.

Mr Nneji added: "This has been of tremendous benefit for the people in the southeast as for more than seven years, this place was shut down. There was no activity until Shackman came and we made an agreement with the Shacman Group and we started skeletally.”

 “We were only able to start full production of trucks when we offered logistics solutions to the Dangote Group in 2016 when we started the first agreement for 500 trucks. With this, many Anammco workers who had been at home had to come back to work and local suppliers of lubricants, electrolyte and the rest had to return to business.”

Dangote Group spokesman Sunday Esan, said the company was satisfied with the quality of Shacman trucks and assured of continued patronage. Mr Nneji noted that the resuscitation of the Anammco plant was made possible through the establishment of the auto policy which encouraged the local production of automobiles.