NIGERIA: Local manufacturers meeting Nigeria’s cement demand

Nigeria has not imported cement since the beginning of the year as a result of increased output in the locally manufactured product which as at date, outstripped the needs of the local market, Engr Joseph Makoju, Chairman, Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria CMAN, has revealed.

Besides, cement manufacturers have also set an output growth of 56.25 per cent to 20 million tonnes, up from about 12.8 million in 2011, he added.

Making the revelation when he led a delegation of cement manufacturers on an official visit to the Ministry of Works, Makoju explained that the feat achieved this year was made possible through improved investments in plants and other operational inputs.

Consequently, he said the country which has a total installed capacity of about 28 million tonnes yearly can now look for the export markets for exploration in cement sales.

“The projected output is about 25 million tonnes more than the current local demand of about 17.5 million. In 2002, total local cement production was only two million tonnes and in that year, we were talking about a local demand of eight million. Importation was at its peak.

“As we are speaking here today, I am happy to report that last year, total local production has gone to 12.8 million tonnes in 2011 from two million in 2002 and as we are meeting here today, we are projecting that total local production this year will be 19-20 million tonnes,” he said.

“The total local demand is projected at 17 million tonnes. So, the local production is in excess of local demand. I am so happy to say that for the first time in our history, from January till date, there has been no importation of cement into the country.

“We are now in a situation of where we don’t need to depend on imports but on local production. The total installed capacity, when you put all the total local production together today; we have 28 million tonnes of installed capacity.

“So, Nigeria has arrived to be recognised as a cement producing country. Now, that is why we believe that this success story can be leveraged on to impact on another problem area of the country, which is bad road network.”