Truck Owners Rally Support To Dangote Group Over Assembly Plants

Sequel to the move by Messrs  Dangote Group to assemble heavy duty trucks in Nigeria, maritime truck owners have commended the business mogul for the innovation , even as they assured that they would buy the trucks  as way of encouragement .
The company said recently that it is investing a whopping $100 million vehicle assembly plant in Lago ,in order to tap from the  opportunity of scarcity of forex and  help tackle unemployment crisis in Nigeria.
The organisation will also partner with China-based Company SINOTRUK to assemble several thousand of trucks annually for haulage businesses in Nigeria.
Auto Port Weekly sampled opinions of truckers in the maritime industry; they said it is a welcome development.
They however assured the conglomerate that purchasing locally made vehicles would be of essence only if the cost is affordable.
Vice Chairman Dry Cargo section, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners {NARTO},Alhaji Inuwa said that the move by the conglomerate to float an assembly plant to boost locally assembly  of trucks for haulage business will add more value to the nation’s economy, even as he appealed to the company to partner with the respective haulage groups. both in the maritime industry and other transport sector groups in order to get the desired patronage.
Inuwa urged the company to stand out from all other local auto assembly plants in Nigeria.
‘’The move by Dangote Group to float an assembly plant will further, create job opportunities for Nigerians and we want it to be a reality this time around, because many investors under the guise of local manufacturing of vehicles are in Nigeria, yet to significant impact on the nation and economy.’’
‘’We want the company to partner with the truck owners because, we have the potential on how to assist , expose the company to those who would patronise this business’.’
Inuwa reiterated that the innovation would help generate both direct and indirect jobs if well harnessed, adding that the conglomerate deserve commendation and support of Nigerians.
According to him, Dangote Group needs to form a strategic partnership with truck owners as ways to aid the sales of the heavy duty trucks across the country.
He also called on the operators to look inward by supporting the company’s quest to float an assembly plant that will manufacture made in Nigeria trucks , pointing that the move would  encourage truck owners to purchase vehicles  of such in Nigeria.
Inuwa , however urged the company to ensure that the price of vehicles are encouraging to the average businessman in haulage business, because price of the heavy duty trucks may likely scare away potential buyers.
Also reacting on the initiative by the Dangote group, former, Chairman, Tin Can Island Chapel, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria {RTEAN}, Comrade Sylvester Keshinro told Auto Port Weekly that the plant will serve as a convenient point for truckers to buy heavy duty truck without delay since there will be direct link. 
Keshinro also stated that the process would lead to mass employment of Nigerians, calling on the federal government to support the conglomerate by creating an enabling environment.