Cement dealers and distributors in the Southwest have endorsed the newly packaged Dangote cement’s 42.5 grade (3X) and expressed optimism that its entry into the market would help sanitise the building and construction industry.
Callers during a live Yoruba programme ‘Owuro Lojo’ of Radio Nigeria’s Gold FM, Ilesha, Osun State, pointed out that the timing of the introduction of the cement grade and the decision to rebrand it by Dangote Cement would help check adulteration of the vital products.
The radio callers urged the government to ban the low quality 32.5 grade from the market so that unsuspecting members of the public would not be deceived and applauded Dangote for the initiative saying the incidence of building collapse has become a source of worry to cement dealers as all fingers are being pointed towards them anytime the consumers detect any fake cement.
To ensure effective distribution and force counterfeiters out of business, the callers advocated the establishment of depots across the length and breadth of the region so that the product would be readily available.
Dangote Cement Regional Director for the West, Funmi Sanni, who was the guest during the programme explained that the new cement was an effort by the company to rid the cement market of low quality cement by ensuring the high quality 42.5 grade is branded in a way that it would stand out.
“It is tamper-proof and we have ensured it is not easily adulterated,” she said, adding that the new cement brand contains ingredients that makes it better than the common 32.5 being produced by some cement companies hence the brand of 3X saying the products offers longer life for structures, higher strength and more yield especially for block makers who would make more blocks with the cement than it would do with 32.5 grade.
While thanking the people for their interest in the new Dangote Cement, she disclosed that despite the fact that the 42.5 is of higher grade, the company has not increased its price warning that the people should not allow themselves to be cheated.
On scarcity of cement, Sanni assured that all hands were on deck to ensure its availability, adding that the prevailing scarcity is due to the shortage of gas being experienced by manufacturing concerns all over the country.
According to her, gas is a critical input in the production of cement, stressing that Dangote Cement is considering all options available to source for gas to ensure its brand of cement is available everywhere.
Sanni equally told the listeners that ongoing nationwide training of block makers by the firm would soon cover all the states in the Southwest and charged them to insist on 3X anytime they need cement saying only the Dangote 3X that is extra strong and offers extra life and extra yield for both the block makers and other customers.
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