Ebonyi plans 6,000-tonne daily cement factory, targets 3,000 jobs

The Ebonyi State Government says its proposed cement factory will create about 3,000 jobs within its first year of operation, as it moves ahead with plans to establish a new plant following unsuccessful efforts to revive the moribund Nigerian Cement Company (Nigercem).

The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Business Development, Oguzor Offia-Nwali, disclosed this in Abakaliki, saying the new facility was expected to begin operations within 24 months.

He said the decision followed the government's inability to secure a firm commitment from billionaire industrialist, Cletus Ibeto, to rehabilitate Nigercem despite several rounds of negotiations.

According to the commissioner, Governor Francis Nwifuru had initially proposed a partnership with Ibeto to restore the cement company's operations and revive its established brand.

Offia-Nwali said the state government offered to contribute half of the estimated $1.6m rehabilitation cost but could not proceed without a clear commitment and an agreed implementation plan.

“We offered to pay half of the $1.6m required for its reactivation, but we needed a clear commitment and a workable arrangement,” he said.

He argued that the government could not continue waiting indefinitely while its industrialisation plans remained stalled, adding that the proposed factory would support employment, economic growth and industrial development.

Providing an update on the project, Offia-Nwali said the government had secured about 10,000 units of land, completed the factory's design and commenced site clearance.

He added that geological exploration was ongoing to establish the quality and commercial quantity of limestone deposits available to sustain production.

“The design has been completed and approved. We have finished with the land acquisition and are clearing the site. At the same time, exploration is ongoing to establish the limestone deposits that will feed the factory,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the proposed plant was designed to produce 6,000 tonnes of cement daily, with Chinese technical partners expected to manage its initial operations before transferring responsibilities to Nigerian personnel.

He maintained that the project would proceed despite controversies surrounding the existing Nigercem facility, insisting that the government was committed to securing a viable cement industry for the state.

On the legal issues surrounding mineral resources, Offia-Nwali acknowledged the Federal Government's jurisdiction over minerals but maintained that the state had responsibilities regarding land administration, subject to relevant laws.

He also stressed the need for host-community consent and Community Development Agreements, saying investors must establish mutually beneficial relationships with communities where mining activities take place.

The commissioner said the government had received written representations from community stakeholders seeking its intervention and supporting a new cement factory if access to Nigercem remained unresolved because of legal disputes.

He further defended the state's industrialisation drive, saying it was guided by Nwifuru's People's Charter of Needs policy, which prioritises investment, employment and economic diversification.

Offia-Nwali also dismissed claims that the state's pipe production facility was no longer operational, insisting that it continued to manufacture products, including pipes with a thickness of two millimetres.

He attributed the cost of the products to their specifications and quality standards, adding that the governor had directed the management not to compromise quality to reduce prices.