Dangote Group has invested over N63 billion in Enugu-based company, Anambra Motor Manufacturing with the purchase of 3,500 trucks from the automaker.
The order was delivered over a period of five years after Dangote Group signed an agreement with Transit Support Services (TSS), the franchise owners of one of the popular Chinese Truck Brands, Shacman Trucks.
Managing Director of the Transit Support Services, Frank Nneji,said already, the group has purchased 3,500 trucks from the automaker worth N63bn, adding that the project had also kept busy the Onne port, which was dormant for many years.
According to him, the port is used for the delivery of vehicle components supplied to the ANAMMCO plant by its partner from China, Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Import & Export Company.
Nneji, told newsmen over the weekend after a facility tour of the truck assembly line at the ANAMMCO plant,that the supplies amounted to over 90 per cent of all Shacman trucks assembled at the factory since the revival of the plant after a long period of abandonment.
Nneji noted that the resuscitation of the ANAMMCO plant was made possible through the establishment of the auto policy which encouraged local production of automobiles.
Nneji, who is also the franchise holder of the Shacman Nigeria, said the Dangote/Shacman truck deal had benefited the people in the area immensely through job creation and training of young school leavers.
The MD who also doubles as the MD of ABC Transport Plc, stressed that “About 90 per cent 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.
“Dangote Group since inception has bought about 3,500 units from us. It also patronises the trucks for its refinery currently being built in Lagos.
He said, “This has been of tremendous benefit for the people in the South-East. 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.”
He added, “We were only able to start full production of trucks when we offered logistics solutions to the Dangote Group. That was in 2016 when we started the first agreement for 500 trucks.
“With this, many workers of ANAMMCO who had been at home had to come back to work; some local suppliers of lubricants, electrolyte and the rest had to return to business.”
The General Manager, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, Sunday Esan, expressed the conglomerate satisfisfaction with the quality of Shacman trucks , even as he assured continued patronage.
