Nigeria: Nigeria's biggest listed company, Dangote Cement opened its new US$1bn cement plant in Ibese, Ogun State, on 9 February 2012, increasing its production capacity in Africa's most populous nation by more than 40%. The new plant will produce 6Mt/yr of cement, taking Dangote's total Nigerian production capacity to 20.25Mt/yr.
"We are working towards making the company one of the eight biggest producers of cement in the world," said Dangote's billionaire owner Aliko Dangote at the plant opening. "With the commissioning of the Ibese plant, Nigeria has been transformed from major importer of cement to self sufficient in production and export."
Dangote said that the new plant would generate around 7000 direct and indirect jobs for local people and spoke about his '20:2020' vision. He forecast that by 2014 his company would be active across 14 African countries, with its production capacity hitting 60Mt/yr.
Giving further details, Dangote added that within the next two years the company would complete upgrades at its Obajana plant in Kogi state, taking its capacity to a massive 15Mt/yr from 10.25Mt/yr at present. If realised, the expansions would make Obajana the largest in the world by installed capacity.
The ceremony was attended by the Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, who cut a symbolic ribbon to officially open the plant for production. He spoke of security challenges in Nigeria, saying that Nigerians were 'tired' of (Boko Haram) bombings and needed more positive developments, like the opening of the Ibese plant.
"This story about commissioning is what Nigerians want to hear," said the President. "We have security challenges in the country. We have challenges in terms of infrastructure but we are totally committed individually and collectively to getting the country out of this situation. Our children want a better Nigeria than this."
The President also spoke about plans for major highway construction and redevelopment projects in Nigeria, many of which will likely source cement from the new plant.
His comments were echoed by the Govenor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, who said that ongoing industrialisation would be severely hindered without the easy and safe transportation of people and goods. Amosun commended Dangote for 'creating the enabling environment for this kind of gigantic project to materialise.'
