By Godwin Okeh, ABAKALIKI
The Group Managing Director of BUA group of companies, Kabiru Rabiu has revealed the preparedness of his company to establish a cement factory in Ebonyi state.
Rabiu announced this in Abakaliki when he led its management on a courtesy visit to Governor Dave Umahi at Exco Chambers, government House, Abakaliki.
He explained that the state has abundance of limestone for cement production and coal, a necessary energy needed for cement production.
Rabiu noted that the state was strategically located for cement production.
He said “we are planning to set up a cement plant here in Ebonyi state. The state is actually the host of the first cement plant in Nigeria, the NIGERCEM but it is quite surprising that today there is no single operational cement plant not only in Ebonyi state but in the entire eastern part of Nigeria.
“We are here because the state is blessed, it has a huge deposit of limestone which is very high in quality. The state also has coal which is a necessary energy needed for cement production.
“The state is strategically located; it is close to Enugu, close to Cross River state, close to the Middle belt. I mean the local government where these deposits are located is very close to Benue which is in the Middle Belt.
“Your Excellency, when we were coming into the state, we saw a road being built with concrete (concrete road) by your administration which goes along way to show your commitment to infrastructure and we also found out about the development of the ring road which is also about 150kms and we learnt that it is going to be built by concrete.
“So, naturally, the state is a market itself not only being positioned in a strategic location but also a large consumption of cement is going to be undertaking by the zone.
“We are really excited about the state, about the location, about the quality and the volume of the limestone you have for cement production here in Ebonyi state”, he said.
Responding, Governor Umahi assured the group of total support by providing enabling environment for the company to operate.
He announced that the state was proposing a law to protect investors in the state.
