Africa richest man, Aliko Dangote is taking another giant step to reposition cement industry in Nigeria through the construction of new cement plants.
Dangote Cement Plc announced that the new plants are sited in Okpella in the northern part of Edo State, with a three million metric tonnes per annum plant and another six mmtpa-capacity plant in Itori, in Ogun State.
The new plants are expected to add nine mmtpa to the company’s current local cement output from 29.25 to 38.25 mmtpa.
Devakumar Edwin, the group MD and CEO, Dangote Cement Plc, said the Okpella plant will be made up of one line while the Itori plant will have two production lines and will come on stream within the next three years. This will help expand the spread of its manufacturing outfits, reducing the transportation cost component of operations.
Other benefits anticipated include lower cost of production; future reduction of the price of cement and also employment opportunities for the youths of host communities.
Dangote Cement has slashed the price of cement from N1800 to N1300 to ensure the product is affordable to all segment of users.
Apart from the slash in price, the cement firm went further to train block moulders on the right mix to get quality blocks.
In reaction, Johnson Olaniyi, sales director, Dangote Cement stated that the company sees building collapses in the country as an indictment on all sector operators and undertook to continue collaboration with all stakeholders to tackle the menace.
