Stan Okenwa
22 December 2011
It was the gathering of ‘who is who’ in Ewekoro, Ogun State a neighbouring community to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s home town when President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned a new 2.5m metric tons cement plant built by leading indigenous player in the sector, Lafarge WAPCO. However, former President was absent.
It was not clear whether the conspicuous absence of the former president was rooted in his recent stiff opposition to the removal of petroleum subsidy by Jonathan’s administration, but observers were not sure if President Jonathan paid him a visit either on his way to or fro the new plant.
Addressing staff of Lafarge WAPCO and thousands of well-wishers at the plant before the commissioning, elated President Jonathan said the delivery of the new plant is a plus to the nation’s crusade on backward integration in the sector.
While congratulating the company for the feat, Jonathan noted that the new plant will go along way in creating employment and consolidating both private and public efforts in housing supply and infrastructure delivery.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, chairman of the group, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye said the new plant code-named EwekoroII will among other things boost market share of Lafrage WAPCO considering the recent expansion of the distribution chain with the opening of new 12 depots across the federation.
Acknowledging the fact his company is the fastest driver of backward integration in cement sector; Osunkeye recalled that Lafarge WAPCO had consolidated delivery system by hooking onto the railway and electronic supply platform.
Also speaking, group chairman of Lafarge SA, Mr. Bruno Lafont thanked Nigerians and the people of Ogun State for their good relations with the company since the early 1960s till date and assured on continued delivery of corporate social responsibilities.
In his vote of thanks, Country Manger, Mr. Jean Christophe Barbant said Lafrage WAPCO will continue to maintain the highest best international practices in both production and safety during the whole lifespan of the new plant, saying the new pant came with the best cement technology.
Delivering his goodwill message, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who arrived in a Helicopter with the presidential entourage said his government will continue to give serious attention to matters of industrial growth in the state.
Progress fact sheet of the new plant showed that former Governor of the state, Chief Gbenga Daniel laid the foundation stone of the plant on February 19, 2009 while a 90 MW power plant was commissioned in June this year.
First Kiln was lit up on July 22 this year while first clinker production was achieved on July 30th which lead to the historic production of the first cement on September 16, 2011 even as the first cement bag was produced on September 29, 2011.
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