The name T.Y. Danjuma rings a bell in Nigerian political discourse, especially in relation to the country’s military past. However, T.Y. Danjuma is also associated with some of Nigeria’s illustrious business concerns, one of which is the Nigeria America Line (NAL).
Starting out as a small shipping enterprise in Apapa Lagos, NAL-COMET Group has grown to embrace eight subsidiaries operating across diverse sectors and are present in Warri, Calabar, and Onne seaports. The group has built a reputation for itself not only in Nigeria’s maritime industry as a shipping giant, but also in the foods, energy and logistics industries.
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The Founder’s Background
Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma was born on the 9th of December 1938 in Takum, Gongola State (now Taraba State) to Kuru Danjuma and Rufkatu Asibi. Like most of the other families in Takum at the time, the Danjumas subsisted mainly on farming. After obtaining early education from St Bartholomew’s Primary School in Wusasa and Benue Provincial Secondary School in Katsina-Ala, he got a scholarship to study at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science, and Technology in Zaria. However, Danjuma gave up his academic pursuit in 1960 for a career in the Nigerian army.
His military career saw him partake in a peacekeeping mission in Congo, a military coup, and the Nigerian civil war. His highest attainment was his role as Chief of Army Staff in the military administration of General Olusegun Obasanjo.
The year 1979 marked a new chapter in the story of T.Y. Danjuma. It was the year in which he retired, and established the Nigeria America Line. The company was set in motion with an indigenous staff size of 12, and a leased merchant vessel to freight from Lagos to Santos in Brazil.
Growth and Expansion
Nigeria America Line received a major boost after winning the rights from NNSC (Nigeria’s National Supply Company) to ship a large volume of goods for the Nigerian government. New policies and trade agreements were also opening doors to markets overseas and encouraging the development of local Nigerian shipping lines. As its reach expanded, NAL joined international maritime associations such as the Mediterranean Line and American West African Freight Conference.
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The expansion of Nigeria America Line resulted in the creation of sister companies. Plantgeria Company Limited, an outfit providing maintenance services and logistics to oil companies, was established in 1981. In 1984, T.Y. Danjuma founded Comet Shipping Agencies Nigeria Limited as a clearing and forwarding agent for NAL. Tarabaroz Fisheries Ltd was also launched to carry through commercial fishing activities from Tin Island Port in Lagos. Other sister companies of NAL-COMET Group in Nigeria are Tethys Plantgeria Limited, Danelec Limited, Danelec FZE, Five Star Logistics Limited, and Best Trade Nigeria Limited.
In 2016, the NAL group started operations in southern Africa with the launch of Comet Shipping Agencies (Pty) Limited in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Comet Shipping Agencies Namibia was set up to provide a full array of shipping and logistics services including clearing and forwarding, bunkering, ship repair, and agency.
Philanthropy
The T.Y. Danjuma Foundation was created in 2008. Its main mandate is the reduction of poverty in underserved communities; it currently works to achieve this by supporting quality education and providing free medical treatment for people in the locations in which it is active.
Much of the foundation’s work has taken place in Taraba, Danjuma’s home state, which has one of the highest poverty rates of any region in Nigeria. It has poured several hundred thousand dollars into humanitarian projects in that state.
Featured image source: Legit NG
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