Indications Are Now Rife That The Nigerian Government May Soon Place a Ban on Cement

With the inauguration of Dangote s $1b Ibese cement plant by President Goodluck Jonathan in Ogun State, indications are now rife that the Nigerian government may soon place a ban on cement, fertilizer, rice soon. Jonathan during the inauguration of the plant, called on major manufacturing firms in the country to invest more on local produce so as to fast track government plans to stop importation of fertilizer, rice, cement among others. He reiterated government plans to review the Bi-courtney contract on the construction of Lagos, Ibadan express road as it has become necessary because the road is vital for industrialisation and the economic growth of the country. Speaking at the commissioning of the Dangote Ibese $1billion Cement plant in Ogun State. The President while responding to the request raised by the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun on the need for government to pay attention during the commissioning of the Dangote Ibese $1billion Cement plant in Ogun State, Lagos-Ibadan express road, said government will soon review its stand on the project, adding that this is necessary because the road is vital for industrialisation and the economic growth of the country. This he said is part of plans to create employment for Nigerians as job creation remains key to his administration. He said government will do everything possible to stop the nation from been a dumping ground of substandard goods. The President said the security challenge going on across the country will not deter government from encouraging investors to come and invest in the country. On the government policies, the President said Nigerians will soon start to enjoy the positive effect of some of his hard policies. No government will want to put policy that will cause hardship for his people. We know what the people are passing through, but I can assure you that Nigerians will benefit more from the polices. We are also aware that some people are trying to frustrate the policies, but we assure Nigerians that everything will work out according to plans, he said. The President commended Aliko Dangote for his efforts in creating jobs and building up of the nation, adding that government will continue to encourage him and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) boost local production of Nigeria made goods. When I gave him theDangote the GCON, some people called me and complained. They said why should I give that title meant for the VicePresident. But, some of them don t understand. I think we can all see that the man deserves it. We need to encourage people like this, he said. The Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, while commending Dangote for creating jobs for the people of Ogun State said one of the cardinal programme of his government is to promote industrialisation as he would continiue to create the enabling environment for potential and existing investors in the State. The President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the achivement is the fruit of the Federal Government 2002 backward integration policy for the cement sector which was designed to transform Nigeria from net importer to self sufficient and export of cement. He said the project is expected to create 7, 000 jobs and will in addition, substantially boost the supply of cement in Nigeria market. He pointed out that in another few weeks, the company will start the contruction of another six million metric tonnes per annum, making it 12million metric tonnes. The new Dangote Ibese cement plant is a modern plant with an installed cpacity of 6 million metric tonnes of cement pe annum and currently ranks as the largest cment in the sub-sahara Africa. Source: uaecement.com