Despite the closure of all land borders by the government for over one year, the Federal Government has authorized Dangote to resume exports across Nigerian land borders.
Recall that the Government closed borders with neighboring countries including Benin and Niger to curb smuggling and boost local production, Although the blockade encouraged the consumption of locally grown produce such as rice, it hurt factories across West Africa, which rely on Nigeria’s market of 200 million people.
The Federal Government gave its authorisation for Africa’s biggest producer to export cement to Niger and Togo in the third quarter for the first time in ten months.
Speaking on this, Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Michel Puchercos, said the export was made possible by the authorization of this regime in Lagos during an investor call.
He also stated they plan to grow the trade using the sea channel.
The authorization of Dangote cement is a softening of the government’s position on a border closure that started in August last year, and could open the way for other businesses to fully resume exports across the country’s land barriers.
