… As Cement Companies Heed Call to Reduce Price

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has disclosed plans by the Federal Government to build six fertilizer blending plants across the country.

He made this disclosure when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria Amb. Terrence McCulley led some US Congressional members on a visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Arc. Sambo further stated that the six plants will be distributed along the six geo-political zones across the country. He used the occasion to thank the United States for their various support through grants to enable Nigeria provide consultancy service for its hydro-power plants.

Explaining further, the Vice President told the Congressmen that the Jonathan’s administration will provide complex of development in the next five years. He said that the administration focuses on Power Supply which will be pursued through the Power Sector Reform Roadmap. He spoke about the 10 thermal power plants currently under construction which when completed will lead to an additional 5000mw of electricity to the National Grid, the development of multipurpose dams and irrigations schemes and, large hydro power plants in Mambila and Zungeru; transportation in the areas of Railways, Deep Seaports, improvement of Airports, inland waterways, dredging of the River Niger, which work is at about 60% completion and the plan to dredge River Benue.

Furthermore, Arc Sambo intimated the Congressmen on Nigeria’s education roadmap and the journey so far, the efforts being made to develop local gas capacity, transparency and good governance. He urged the Congressmen to encourage America businessmen to come and participate in developing these sectors by investing in them. He informed them of the capacity of the ICRC in executing the PPP arrangements.

Meanwhile in a related development the Federal Government has expressed delight with Cement manufacturing companies for heeding its call to reduce the price of cement. This comes on the heels of the signing of the contract for the expansion of Edo Cement Plant, between BUA International Limited and FL Smidth, Demark.

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, stated this when he received on courtesy call a delegation from BUA International Limited and FL Smidth, at the State House, Abuja.

He said: “We know the importance of cement, and of recent Mr. President, had a meeting with you regarding its pricing and this is a very good response to Mr. President’s request that we must within this period be able to meet to the total demand of cement production, come with the right price and even to the extent that we will export cement out of Nigeria.”

The Vice President who was informed by the Chairman of BUA International Limited, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu of the signing of the contract between the companies said the signing “comes, at a very good time, which is our first day in office after our inauguration.†According to him, this goes a long way to further enhance and confirm the confidence that foreign and local partners have in the administration.

He assured them that government would continue to ensure that all businesses thrive, by putting in place all the necessary mechanism to facilitate their development, noting that the transformation agenda of the administration would cut across the power sector, the comatose rail sector, construction of deep sea ports, water ways and more dredging of rivers, adding that very soon the 100 mega watts power plant you have will be a standby plant

Arc Sambo used the occasion to call on other business concerns to emulate BUA International Limited by supporting government in its quest to transform the country.

Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, had earlier informed the Vice President of the formal signing of a five hundred million dollars expansion programme of the Edo Cement Plant, which was acquired by the company in 2009.

The expansion project which would boast of modern facilities would produce 2.5 million metric tonnes of cement per annum and generate 100 megawatts of electricity. He said the Plant upon completion would generate 24000 new jobs.

He used the occasion to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Mohammed Namadi for their victory at the recent elections and their subsequent inauguration last Sunday. He also expressed appreciation for the support they have been receiving from government.

Other members of the delegation were, Mr. Fleming Petersen, David Barnett, Kabiru Rabiu and Mr. Chima Madukwe and Mr. Debo Agbonyin