Fifty years after, there is a strong indication that the Nigerian economy is heading for an era of cement surplus and there would be left overs for the export market.
Facts on the ground lend credence to this optimism. With large quantities of the product available here, there and everywhere across the country, the price of the commodity will likely drop especially when supply outstrips demand.
Mr. Opakunle, the Plant Manager of II, Lafarge Cement WAPCO Nigeria Plc, said this is already happening in some parts of the country, especially the South-West, the Lafarge Group ��s core market.
While the Lafarge Group in Nigeria comprises WAPCO, Ashaka in Gombe, Unicem, Calabar and Atlas, Port Harcourt, the South-West states are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti including Edo and Delta State.
Opakunle affirmed that the country has started reaping the economic benefit of the Ewekoro II 2.5 million metric tonnes annual production capacity plants which was built at the cost of N80.5 billion (about 350 million Euro. The plant was officially commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan in December last year.
��In the past six months Ewekoro11 plant has flooded the South West, our core markets and beyond with more than 120,000 metric tonnes. A tonne of cement is 20 bags. ��In terms of the total volume, we are pushing into the market 5,000 metric tonnes per week. This translates to over 20,000 tonnes per month and 120,000 tonnes from September 16 last year, till-date.
��At this period of the year the price of cement is skyrocketed as a result of scarcity of the commodity. But this is not the case this year. Today a 50kg bag that sold for N2, 200 and above now sells for N1, 600 in Lagos and beyond.
��For us, what is important is the availability of cement out there in the market. We are stepping up to increase it further. As I speak with you, we have the potential for over 40,000 tonnes of cement that we can ship to the market. What has happened in the past is that because of the scarcity of cement, distributors and retailers hike prices of the commodity. The advantage we are having now is that with the volume we are flooding into the market, it does not give room for people to play with the price.��
He attributed the success story being recorded to the efficient running of the kilns and the plants�� dedicated workforce. ��I am happy to let you know that the plant is running 99.38 percent reliability. The efficient operation of the plant is more about the people that are running it and also about our knowledge of the equipment and our ability to master any problem that potentially comes up; and I am also happy that we are running like a plant that has been in operation for ten years.��
