03 October 2013, Lagos – MAJOR concessionaire, A .P. Moller Terminal limited, has demolished Dangote Cement bagging factory located on the control tower of the Apapa port complex to create more space for its operations.
It was gathered that the factory was demolished few months back following moves by the terminal operator to commence phase three of its expansion programme.
It was gathered that the management of Dangote’s cement bagging factory was given a long notice to vacate the portion of land it occupied following the conclusion of the concession programme.
The portion of land that was occupied by the cement factory had been concessioned to A. P. Moller and for more than six years, Dangote’s cement company refused to vacate the said premises.
During a media tour of the terminal conducted by the Commercial Officer of A .P Moller, Mr. Neil Fletcher, it was observed that the cement factory before its demolition was a beehive of activities as all kinds of traders were seen around the place.
Speaking on the development, the Media Advisor to A.P .Moller, Mr. Bolaji Akinola said that the terminal operator had no business with Dangote, adding that it has a binding agreement with the mnagement of the Ngerian Ports Authority, NPA.
He explained that the factory had to prevail on NPA for them to also prevail on the Dangote to vacate their premises.
Akinola also said that the factory had to be demolished to give way for the commencement of the phase three of its expansion project and that the part occupied by the cement factory was part of the project.
Speaking on behalf of Dangote’s group Mr. Esan Sunday, said that before now, the cement factory was used for bagging, adding that now that the company has capacity to produce the commodity locally, the bagging facility is of no use.
*Godwin Oritse & Mariam Eko, Vanguard
