Lafarge Country Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nigeria and Benin Republic, Mr. Guillaume Roux, has said that the company has invested more than €1 billion (about N214 billion) in the country since 2008, adding that an additional €1billion would be injected to double its operational capacity within the next three to four years.
He said Lafarge had through the years earned a reputation for products of impeccable quality and differentiated itself through innovation, value adding services and contribution to industrialisation of the country. He said plans are underway to double the number of plant it currently has in the country.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, Roux, who is also the company's Group Executive Vice-President said going forward, Lafarge planned to deploy various innovative solutions which are tailored and adapted for the Nigerian environment with a view to addressing customers' varying needs.
He said it intends to make a big difference in the industry by having a nationwide coverage with a strong push to develop the people boost their economic power.
Specifically, he said there are plans to install construction development laboratories to cater for different solutions for different types of customers.
He also said there are ongoing plans with the ministry of works and housing to promote the use of concrete for road construction in the country.
He said:"We are keen at supporting the industrialisation of the country and region in which we operate."
He noted that efforts had been made to development the country's human capacity by ensuring 98 percent of staff are Nigerians.
Lafarge is a French industrial company specialising in four major products including cement, construction aggregates, concrete and gypsum wallboard. It is currently one of the leading private sector companies which is sponsoring Nigeria's centenary celebrations.
"We want to bring different solutions to our customers, we are not just selling cement powder, we are selling products and solutions for different types of customers," he said.
Reacting to allegations that the increasing incidence of building collapse in the country due to the prevalence of substandard cement products, Roux, while regretting the trend however argued that building collapse has no direct bearing to quality of cement.
Notwithstanding, he said Lafarge puts quality control at the forefront of its operation stressing that "we have a high quality cement with is consistent with local and international standard."
Rather, he blamed the collapse of buildings on the misapplication of building materials and low level of construction education adding that cement manufactured in the country are of international standard and best practice.
He said it had been proven globally that cement has no direct link with building collapse, adding that there was the need for enhanced education programme on proper usage or cement application.
Control of construction is also key to stopping collapse buildings.
Roux said:"Cement quality is not cause of building collapse, this has been proven internationally. What causes building collapse is related to the way concrete is being made; the way the materials are being applied; Andy designs of buildings that could be faulty. Those are the main causes of building collapse that is why we are focusing on the education and training of our people."
He further noted that the control of construction activities was also key to stopping buildings collapses.
According to him, among other initiatives, Lafarge is currently working out modalities for giving training to block makers on usage of cement in relation to other building materials.
He said the company would continue to work with the works and housing ministry to help more people understand the benefits of complying to set standards.
He said the current policy of backward interest anion in the industry had been a success by helping to create more jobs and better products and innovation as we'll as stability in the environment leading to decrease in price of cement to the benefit of consumers.
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