The management of Dangote Cement Plc has splashed bonuses amounting to N1.25 billion on the company’s distributors in appreciation of their patronage in 2013.

It was naira rain for distributors of the country’s leading cement manufacturer, as each of the distributors went home with mouth-watering reward doled out at a forum in Lagos. Each of the distributors was presented with a cheque in the sum of his bonus with the highest bonus of N62 million awarded to Chinedu & Son Investment Nigeria Limited, as the Number One Customer for the year 2013.

To achieve the feat, Chinedu & Son recorded a meteoric rise from the 13th position in the previous year to the number one position. Praising the company, Dangote Cement Chairman, Aliko Dangote, said the company’s achievement attested to the unrelenting spirit of the human enterprise. He enjoined others not to rest on their oars as it is often easier to get to the top than to remain there.

Dangote noted: “To remain on top of your game, you must strive to constantly improve on your best. To do this, you must be innovative. The future belongs to those that are creative and innovative in their approach to doing business. Forward-looking organisations constantly seek innovative ways of doing things in order to stay ahead of the pack.”

Dangote had earlier in the day disclosed during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) that the company sold 13.3m tons of the product in 2013, a feat he said was attained with the patronage of the distributors.

He said the payment of the bonus was to celebrate the distributors for their unflinching loyalty and commitment to Dangote Cement, which remains the Number One cement brand in Nigeria in spite of the intense competition in the industry.

“We could not have achieved this enviable feat without your immense contributions. That is why we have gathered here to show you our sincere appreciation. I am delighted to note that during the year you have fine-tuned your sales and marketing strategies to remain on top of the game, as the excellent results we posted for last year demonstrate, and this has allowed us to remain in our leading position,” Dangote stated.

The Dangote Cement boss then used the occasion to formally introduce the company’s new grade of cement—the 42.5 grade popularly known as Dangote Cement 3X, Big Boss or Big Oga, describing it as a demonstration of the company’s commitment to its customers.

His words: “It is a demonstration of our commitment to excellence. It is also a demonstration of our commitment to quality. The 3X stands for ‘extra strength,’ ‘extra yield’ and ‘extra life,’ and it is the product of many years of research and development. We believe in going the extra mile for you, our distributors and customers, the end users.

“Very soon, we will introduce another higher grade brand of 52.5 cement. The 42.5 grade and 52.5 grade will serve different purposes and will give consumers more options.”

In his welcome address, Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin, thanked the distributors for their loyalty to Dangote cement brand pointing out that they must have seen that they have made a mistake for choosing to do business with the company

He promised that the cement company would continue to show appreciation to them and urged them to strive to sell more Dangote cement this year and they would also be rewarded more saying; one good turn deserves another.

Edwin used the occasion to dispel the insinuations in some quarters that the price of the product has been increased noting that despite the spiraling increase in our cost of production, “we have no plans for any major increase in the selling price of cement.”

He continued: “as an ethical organisation, we believe in putting our customers and our consumers first, before profits. We believe in creating value in a sustainable manner. We believe in making our products affordable to enable the ordinary Nigerian have a roof over his head. We will not relent in pursuing this philosophy.”

•Photo shows Dangote Cement Chairman, Aliko Dangote.