Nigeria: Dangote Cement asks Federal Government to spend more on infrastructure

This week, Dangote Cement opened its new 6Mta Ibese cement plant and it is possible that before the end of this year Nigeria’s cement production might exceed local cement demand.

Therefore, Dangote Cement has urged Nigeria’s government to invest more on infrastructure to enable it to absorb the anticipated increase in cement production.

Mr Joseph Makoju, the Special Assistant to Alhaji Aliko Dangote on cement, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).??"With all the new capacity, there could be a glut out of the excess production.
The government has a big part to play because they are the biggest consumer of cement especially in public works and construction.

"So the government needs to really invest more in infrastructure development especially civil infrastructure like roads and bridges."

Makoju said that stakeholders in the cement industry were keenly promoting to all tiers of government the need for cement roads.

"Also, we are now promoting an idea that can lead to an increase in the consumption of cement dramatically. And the idea we are promoting is to specify cement in road construction in Nigeria,” he said.

"The initial cost may be a bit high than asphalt but in the long run it is cheaper because you will not spend money maintaining it.