An investigation has revealed how Dangote Group under the leadership of its president, Alh. Aliko Dangote has been allegedly engaging in subversive activities tantamount to economic sabotage, around Nigeria land borders.
In August 2019, President Muhammadu Buharis administration announced a border closure policy which saw the immediate halting of all trade activities across Nigerian borders with neighbouring countries like Benin Republic and others.
The border-closure policy was triggered by Nigerian authorities frustration with the smuggling in of rice and illicit exports of locally subsidized petrol to neighboring countries like Benin Republic and others.
Although it may seem like the blockade encouraged the consumption of locally grown produce such as rice, it also hurt factories in some countries across West Africa, which rely on Nigerias market of 200 million people.
However, according to an on-line platform, E-nigeria! investigation, while the borders remained shut, Dangote companys trucks resumed export of cement across neighbouring West African countries and upon returning back into the country, men of the Nigerian Customs Service suspected to be under the companys payroll allegedly look the other way while the trucks smuggle foreign rice and other contraband goods into the country particularly through the Seme border.
According to a land border clearing agent, Olabode Somefun, who spoke to their reporter recounted how his business has been in decline since the border was shut, stating that he is even more frustrated seeing the shenanigans orchestrated by Dangote Cement truck drivers on daily basis across the border.
Meanwhile, other eye witnesses also narrated that at times the truck drivers stop at some Customs check points to offload a few bags of rice as compensation for the officials, who eventually grant them passage.
Recall that, in October 2019 when the Customs Comptroller-general, Hameed Ali spoke to the media in Abuja, he reiterated his agencys commitment to President Muhammadu Buharis land border shut down directive, saying that it will help Nigeria to have total control over what comes in and goes out of the country.
When Dangote Group was reached for their response to the allegation, its Head of Corporate Communications, Anthony Chiejina, said the group was not the only one granted partial license by the Nigerian government to operate while the border was shut, he said other companies like Flour Mills and Bua were also operating under same license.
