LafargeHolcim officially launched its new Group around the world On July 15, 2015 and announced key elements of its ambitions for the future, including the impact it will have on Nigeria’s economy specifically in the building and construction sector.
Following the successful completion of the merger between Lafarge Group of France and Swiss company Holcim, the new Group will now work towards creating the highest performing company in the building materials industry, the company disclosed.
Speaking at a media briefing at Lafarge Africa Plc corporate head office in Lagos, the outgoing Country CEO for Nigeria, Mr. Guillaume Roux, stated that “the merger will have a positive impact on the on-going consolidation of the Nigeria operations under Lafarge Africa Plc as United Cement Company of Nigeria (UniCem) a JV between Lafarge and Holcim in Cross Rivers would now join the other operations – AshakaCem in Gombe, Atlas terminal in Rivers, WAPCO Operations in Ogun, as well as its Aggregates and Readymix sites across the country as a member of LafargeHolcim in Nigeria”.
Peter Hoddinott, Area Manager, Nigeria & West Africa who takes over leadership of Lafarge Africa Plc stated that the union of the world’s two biggest building materials companies marks a milestone in the company’s commitment to providing the best cement, concrete and aggregates products to Nigerians.
He affirmed that the company which will still be known in Nigeria as Lafarge Africa Plc, would continue to play a key role in the economic development of Nigeria by leveraging on LafargeHolcim Group’s combined technical excellence and years of operation for the continuous production of building solutions that are best in quality, innovative, available and affordable.
Declaring the ambition of the global union, Hoddinott said “we aim to be the best in our sector through excellence in Health and Safety, which is our overarching value, quality, customer service, community relations and overall enhanced value to our stakeholders. We will create a stronger company that is able to make more solid investment in Nigeria and be better able to assist in delivering more affordable housing as well as support for socio-economic progress through CSR activities.
LafargeHolcim merger claims to be the emergence of the most advanced building materials company in the world, with experience of over 180 years in the cement, concrete and aggregates sectors. Together, this new Group comprises of over 115,000 employees and operates in 90 countries around the world.
LafargeHolcim products according to the company, are backed by the most sophisticated Research and Development capability in the industry with the largest cement technical centre employing more than 1,100 researchers.
The new Area Manager, Nigeria & West Africa, Mr Peter Hoddinott also used the occasion of the media briefing to acknowledge the leadership role of his predecessor and former Group MD/CEO, Mr. Guillaume Roux over the last two years in transforming Lafarge Africa Plc into a consolidated entity with a positive impact for its stakeholders.
