There are strong indications that the planned commissioning of the Dangote Cement Plant in Ibeshe, Ogun State near Lagos, may contribute in eliminating massive importation of cement to Nigeria if the estimated production capacity could be met.
Indeed, Dangote Cement Plc, the leading cement manufacturer, said the commissioning of the Ibese Plant near Ilaro in Ogun State on February 9, 2012 would be opening a new chapter in the economic history of Nigeria as the opening of the new plant, reputed to be the largest in Africa, is putting Nigeria in the world map as not only a producer of the vital commodity but also a net exporter in months to come.
“We are marking the closing ceremony of cement import in Nigeria with the coming on stream of  Ibese cement plant which will be producing a combined six-million tons per annum from its initial two lines while additional two lines will be added immediately to increase its production to 12 million tons per annum”, the management of Dangote Cement said at the weekend.
President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote had told the nation that his organization was taking up the challenge to lead the way in the effort as making the nation self-reliant in the cement production as the nation was losing a huge sum in foreign exchange on import.
According to him, the desire of the Dangote Cement is to ensure that Nigeria not only move away completely from import of certain commodities, of which cement is one, but to strengthen the local production capacity to make her exporting nation and increase her foreign reserves.
“Our long term ambition is to develop 46 million metric tons of production and terminal capacity in Africa by 2015, he said. “We want to become a truly pan-African champion in the sector, capable of competing globally with the largest cement companies in the world.”
Dangote’s current project in cement manufacturing is to further extend his consortium across Africa. Its cement business, which has generated revenues of $3 billion in 2010, already reaches 14 African countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, the DRC, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia.
On the expansion of cement production to meet Africa’s demand after successfully meeting Nigerian local consumption needs, Dangote said, “Our long term ambition is to develop 46 million metric tons of production and terminal capacity in Africa by 2015. We want to become a truly pan-African champion in the sector, capable of competing globally with the largest cement companies in the world.”
Anthony Chiejina, group head corporate communication of the Dangote Group, pointed out that “considering that Nigeria’s cement need is between17 to 19 million tons per year, by implication, with the coming on stream of Ibese, what Dangote Group alone will be producing will be far more than the country’s demand. That will set the pace for exportation of our products which will lead to, more revenue for the company and better returns for the shareholders.”