Nigeria: Dangote supports ban on cement importation

Dangote group of companies yesterday said the recent ban on importation of cement would protect local industries as well as encourage the new cement plants.

Dangote while reacting to the federal government's policy on cement importation in a statement said it is now time for the manufacturing sector to respond positively by increasing efficiencies and investing massively in local production.

The statement issued by SY&T Company Limited said Dangote welcome the ban on cement importation. It said: "We welcome the new federal government policy on cement importation, which is one in a series of measures directed at improving the operating environment for the young Nigerian cement industry.

This measure is consistent with the realization by government that the entire manufacturing sector should increase its contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product, which we consider a pre-requisite to achieving the government's goal of becoming one of the top twenty industrialized nations of the world in the year 2020."

The group noted that Dangote Cement is currently investing in plant expansions and new projects to add additional 12 million metric tons, "and we understand that another company is adding a further 2 million metric tons to meet the current consumption demand of 14 million metric tons in local production by 2011."

"Dangote Cement is happy to partner with the federal government to make this a reality, and with this, for sure, Nigeria will be able to export cement to neighboring countries", the statement said.

From China Cement [2009-10-26]