Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, and world richest black man, Aliko Dangote, on Wednesday in Kano, said the company went into production of the new 42.5 grade cement in the country to save the nation from the embarrassing incidences of building collapse, with its attendance loss of lives, and investment on buildings, running into billions of Naira annually.
The investment in the higher grade cement, he noted, would enable Nigerians access world class cement, which will ensure the durability of the houses that the cement is used to build.
Speaking at a customers’ forum organized for distributors and others dealers in the company` cement brands, Dangote, who spoke in his native Hausa language, while responding to comments on the new product, explained that before his latest investment in the new grade of cement, companies manufacturing cement in the country, were only involved in the production of 32.5 grade of cement. This, he said, was despite the fact that they have the capacity to step up to the production of the 42.5 grade.
He added that the decision by most of the cement manufacturers to limit themselves to the production of the 32.5 grade of cement, was because of policy of government then which allowed importation of the commodity.
“What Nigerians need to know about our involvement in the manufacturing of our latest grade of cement was that it is driven out of our patriotic duty to save Nigeria from the national embarrassment associated with collapsed buildings in the country.
“From what we know the series of building which is on the rise before our initiative to go into the manufacturing of the 42.5 grade, has to do with the quality of the 32.5 grade of cement that is in use, particularly, those being imported which were much more inferior to what was being produced locally.
“If we could remember, before 2008, the case of building collapses which was the in thing, prior to our resolve to start the manufacturing of the new grade of cement, was not very pronounced”.
“The incidences became more pronounced when some importers of cements put pressure on the Federal Government to permit them to be bringing cement into the country. With the granting of the permission they started bring in all manners of cement in the 32.5 grade category, and this was what led to the increasing of building collapse” he stated.
To boost access to the product by consumers, the president of Dangote Group, revealed that his company had concluded plans to expand the capacity of its production lines, in Obajana, in Kogi state, Gboko, in Benue state, and Ibese, Ogun state, from the current 19.25 million metric tons (mmt) by additional 9 million tons by the end of the year.
Dangote further stated that the expansion will move the production output of the three manufacturing plants to about 28 million tons, which will position his company as the biggest cement production entity in Africa.
As a way of promoting effective and efficient distribution of the products, he hinted that the management of the company is to engage the operators of the Truck conveying the products to circulation points across the country, with the view to make it available, which will translate into price reduction.
Also speaking at the occasion, Joe Makoju, a special aide to the President, said the company is committed to making its products readily available all over the country at a reduce price.
Makoju, who is also the national president of the National Association of Cement Manufacturers of Nigeria (NACMN), called for the support of all Nigerians for the initiative of the company to make the nation self sufficiency in cement production.
For Knut Ulvmoen, group Executive Director, Sales and Marketing, the company is out to boost business relationship with all its distributors and dealers, and is specifically interested in extending its products to all parts of the northern states, in order to enable people in the region benefit from the fact the founder of the company is from the region.
A cross section of participants at the forum commended Dangote for his numerous initiatives to float business enterprises, which are creating wealth, and employment for the increasing number of Nigerians.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of gifts and appreciation letters to distributors, and dealers that have contributed to the boosting of the sales and marketing of the company`s products.
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