Federal Government Exempts Dangote From Land Border Closure

The federal government has exempted the Dangote Group of companies from the land border closure policy. Dangote Cement has been reportedly allowed to resume exports across Nigerian land borders by the federal government whose order of border closure has been effected for over a year.

Federal Government Exempts Dangote From Land Border ClosureBloomberg reported that President Muhammadu Buhari‘s administration gave its authorization for Africa’s biggest producer to export cement to Niger and Togo in the third quarter for the first time in ten months.

It was learnt that the Michel Puchercos, chief executive officer of the firm said the export was made possible “through authorization given by this administration” during an investor call in Lagos.

Puchercos also revealed that they plan to grow the trade using the sea channels.The Lagos-based company’s plan to buy back some of its shares has been delayed by market volatility and low liquidity, which have affected valuation, Guillaume Moyen, acting chief financial officer said at the same conference call.

It is speculated that the exemption to 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. It has has also reignited hope of Africa’s most populous nation reopening trade with neighbors after a year-long blockade.
Aliko Dangote
Photo Credit: Getty

 

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