Nigeria: Chairman of the Cement Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (CMAN), Joseph Makoju, has announced that Nigeria is producing more cement than it consumes, at a meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State.

Makoju said that the Nigerian cement industry was recording success at a time when the manufacturing sector as a whole in the country was shrinking. He attributed the slide in the price of cement to a surplus in the market, a feat he described as a first in the country.

"We believe that Nigeria has arrived as a cement manufacturing country. We are out to encourage local production against importation. The government has been very faithful as local production rose from 2Mt in 2002 to 13Mt in 2011 and so far this year to 17Mt," said Makoju. He added that for the first time in the country's history it had gone nine months without the government issuing licenses for cement imports. CMAN is now working out ways to export cement to other countries in the west African sub-region. Yet despite the surplus CMAN is still encouraging investors to build more cement plants.

Other issues raised at the meeting included the effect the poor state of Nigeria's roads has on the price of cement. Makoju estimated that 30% of the price comes from haulage fees which CMAN has no control over. CMAN has taken up the issue with the government and recommended the use of concrete road construction.