President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has concluded a major automotive partnership with BAIC FOTON, placing an order for more than 1,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to support operations across Nigeria.

The fleet acquisition, facilitated by Kewalram Autos, is expected to significantly strengthen the logistics and distribution capacity of Dangote Cement, while also supporting the Group’s wider industrial activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The agreement followed a high-level meeting recently held in Beijing, which brought together a Dangote Group delegation led by Aliko Dangote and senior executives of BAIC FOTON. The meeting was organised by the Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Kewalram Mobility, Mr. Anil Sahgal.

At the meeting, the General Manager of BAIC Group and Chairman of BAIC FOTON, Chang Rui, commended the Dangote Group for its contributions to industrialisation across Africa and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to expanding its presence on the continent. Other executives in attendance included Executive Vice President Lu Zhenghua and Vice President and President of BAIC FOTON International, Fu Jun.

Fu Jun highlighted BAIC FOTON’s global growth strategy and advancements in new-energy commercial vehicle technologies, noting the company’s focus on delivering efficient, customer-oriented transport solutions worldwide.

In his remarks, Dangote praised BAIC FOTON’s technological capabilities, particularly in the development of CNG-powered trucks, describing the partnership as consistent with Africa’s sustainability objectives and ongoing energy transition efforts.

Under the terms of the deal, the Dangote Group will take delivery of a wide range of CNG-powered tractors and semi-trailers designed to improve the efficiency and scale of its cement haulage operations. The introduction of the vehicles is expected to lower fuel costs and reduce carbon emissions, reinforcing the Group’s commitment to cleaner energy alternatives.

Sahgal assured that Kewalram Autos would provide comprehensive lifecycle support, including after-sales service and the development of local assembly infrastructure, to ensure optimal fleet performance.

Industry analysts say the transaction reflects growing confidence in alternative-fuel technology within Nigeria’s heavy-duty transport sector and underscores the Dangote Group’s sustained investment in logistics to support its expanding industrial footprint.