By Dipo Olowookere
Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Aliko Dangote, has disclosed that the cement giant plans to increase its production capacity in Nigeria by six million tons by next year.
Mr Dangote, who is Africa’s richest man, said at a function in Lagos on Thursday that the firm was working to raise the installed capacity for cement production from the present 29 million tons to 35 million by 2020.
“In Nigeria alone, we have 29 million tons installed capacity for cement production and we will be at 35 million by 2020,” Mr Dangote said while speaking at the commissioning of the N85 million Chemical and Non-Metallic Employers Federation (CANMPEF) House.
He described Dangote Cement, which controls a larger market share in the country, as one of the most employer of labour. According to him, “Dangote Cement Plc alone provides employment to over 25,000 people across the nation.”
He said this was made possible as a result of its determination of being importer of cement into the country to an exporter of the product to other nations.
“We have contributed hugely to the nation’s successful transition from being at one time the world’s largest importer of cement to the position we are today where we not only are self-sufficient in cement, but indeed are net exporters of cement,” he said.
Mr Dangote commended CANMPEF for contributing to the development of Nigeria, saying at the event that, “I am aware that CANMPEF is Nigeria’s largest employer’s federation, with your members spread in various locations across Nigeria and fully engaged in various value-added activities that are creating wealth and employment for millions of Nigerians.”
He further applauded the organization for the successful completion of the house, noting that, “I am told that CANMPEF House was built at a cost of about N85 million and that it is a multipurpose facility that will cater for a wide range of developmental work.”
Adedapo Adesanya