Edo: Dangote Cement’s $1bn new factory to start production

By Owoleye Oluwakayode

Dangote Cement Plc, has stated that its 6 million metric tonnes per annum factory in Edo State, with an estimated cost of $1 billion is completed and set for commissioning.

The new factory is part of efforts by Dangote Cement to boost cement production in the state and across the country.

The disclosure is contained in a statement issued by Dangote Cement, made available to Nigerian NewsDirect, which stated that the plant that is sitting on 1,000-hectare land, aligns with the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s plan to diversify the state’s economy and attract investment into its productive sector.

The Director, Stakeholder Management at Dangote Cement Plc, revealed that the local community made an input in the construction of the plant as engineers, technicians and other members of the community worked on it till completion.

He was quoted as saying, “In Nigeria, we have a population of over 200 million people. The per capita consumption of cement in Nigeria is low. We still need to do more to make the cement get to the poorest of the poor.”

The statement by the company pointed out that the plant was built by Sinoma International Engineering Company with 1,500 local workers collaborating with the Chinese engineers on the project.

It also added that the plant is expected to employ at least 6,000 workers when it commences operations.

The Dangote Group on April 10, 2016, commenced the construction of the $1 billion cement factory at Okpella Edo State to expand its cement production in Nigeria.

The completion of the 6 million metric tonnes per annum Okpella plant and the 6 million metric tonnes per annum at Itori Ogun state is expected to increase the company’s total local production capacity to 41.25 million metric tonnes per annum.