AFRICA: NIGERIA: Cement import to end 2012, says Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said Nigeria would stop the importation of cement by the first quarter of next year. 

He said this is in tandem with his assurance to cement manufacturers during a meeting with them a few months ago. 

Jonathan, who spoke at the opening of the Lafarge Ewekoro 11 Plant, in Ogun State, said the Federal Government had earlier promised to stop cement importation if the manufacturers could meet up with the demand, adding that with what is on ground, this would become reality by the first quarter of next year. 

He said the government is committed to maintaining backward integration to guarantee self-sufficiency in the sector. 

Jonathan commended Lafarge for building the plant, saying the development showed the trust the company has in the country. 

He said there is need for rapid growth and diversification of the economy in other sectors, as the stock of oil upon which the country substantially depends, is a depleting asset.

He pointed out that the manufacturing sector would continue to remain a focal point for the government to improve the local economy thereby diversifying from oil to other sectors.

“According to experts, our oil sector is gradually depleting and in 35 years, things would definitely not remain the same in the sector.This is worrisome,” he admitted, and called for the urgent need to open up the private sector in order to make it more competitive and encourage more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to boost our Gross Domestic Output.

“We are focusing on other aspects of the economy so that when the oil is dry, we would have other things to fall back on. We hope to develop other areas like agriculture and manufacturing so that we can become self- sufficient,” Jonathan, stated. 

The Chairman, Lafarge WAPCO, Olusegun Osunkeye, said the new plant would contribute N6 billion yearly to the economy. He said this would be achieved through taxes and salaries, adding that the plant will create 1,000 additional jobs. 

Having fulfilled the national desire to establish a cement manufacturing company, the company has grown sustainability and made tremendous contributions to the availability of cement in the country, he said, adding that the plant puts the company at the forefront of exploration, production and marketing of cement in Nigeria.