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The new promo liberalises the extant policy where customers who intend to buy directly at factory price could only do so if they are buying trucks of cement. ‘Two or more people can come together to buy 100 bags. We are partnering with Access Bank whose representatives are at the fair where customers can pay and get their product.’ he said.

Director General, Kaduna Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Usman Salau applauded the partnership with Dangote, saying the promo will bolster the fair and increase participation.

He said all arrangement which include security, electricity and water supply have been concluded, adding that the Dangote Group is one the sponsors of the Trade Fair.

Salau hailed the partnership with private investors which include Dangote Group, saying this year’s fair promises to be a success.

Spokesman of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina said that promo was a golden opportunity for retailers and end users to leverage on at the fair.

Meanwhile the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan commended the leading roles being played by the Dangote Group in the economic transformation efforts of the government, describing the company as a partner in progress.

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The House had on Friday resolved to investigate the allegations that some companies are producing substandard cement, following a motion raised by Hon. Ibrahim El-sudi which expressed concerns over the raging controversies vis a vis the high incidence of building collapse in parts ofbthe country.

The motion was unanimously adopted with the House promising to set up an ad-hoc committee to undertake the assignment of unravelling the truth or otherwise of the claim of existence of substandard cement.

Dangote said at the weekend that the resolution by the Reps is a step in the right direction as it will reveal the real situation in the cement industry

Members of a Coalition of non governmental Organisations had days ago alerted the nation to the existence in the market a 32.5 grade of cement said to be substandard and threatened to protest and report Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to Consumer Protection Council for allowing such development.

The group reasoned that the cement must have been responsible for the incessant building collapse being experienced in the country.

It based its anger against SON on the fact that the cement being imported into the country is 42.5 which is a higher grade also approved by SON.

To allow some local producers to produce lesser quality of cement, the group reasoned smacked off double standard to the detriment of Nigerians.

Following the outburst by the coalition, Dangote Cement Plc came out to stoutly defend its product, dissociating itself from production of any substandard cement.

Group Head, Corporate Communications for Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina said his company welcomed the development and would be ready to cooperate with the authorities in their findings.

He said that Dangote cement does not produce substandard product and would support any effort at ensuring the right quality product is offered Nigerians.

It would also be recalled that the SON had persistently denied that there is substandard cement in the market.

A statement from the organisation in the wake of the controversies indicated though it has set up a committee to review the existing quality of cement but confirmed that there is no low quality cement produced by any company in Nigeria.

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The company made this known in a statement issued at the weekend against the background of the on-going debates on the appropriate quality of cement and environmental impact of production plants.

Dangote group, a leading producer of cement and household products in the statement signed by its Group Head, Corporate Communication, Anthony Chiejina, explained that the Group was mindful of the quality of its products and has been adhering strictly to the acceptable best global practices.

The group stated that it had no issue with the cement quality which has recently become a subject of controversy, saying that all along the company has been manufacturing the best quality which 42.5 grade good for building.

According to him, the cement quality being churned out from all the Dangote cement plants are controlled by robot to eliminate any human error, adding that the emission at all its cement factories had been in tandem with the global requiement because it deployed latest technology that reduces noise to the bearest minimum and almost eliminate emission.

“The issue of environmental pollution from factories operating from Ogun state had attracted public petition to the Ogun State House of Assembly which is currently holding a public hearing on the petition. However, it should be noted that Dangote cement was not one of the companies summoned over the issue of polution as the Ogun State House of Assembly committee on environment said it was satisfied with the operations of the group within the state,” the statement said.

The Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement, Devarkuma Edwin had last week in Lagos said that Dangote Cement chose to produce 42.5 cement grade as it is stronger and has better qualities.

According to him, the cement grade possesses higher strength capability and is rapid setting making it the preferred grade among blockmakers, builders and construction workers.

Further explaining why Dangote Cement is laying emphasis on the production of 42.5 grade cement, Edwin said that prior to the nation attaining self-sufficiency in cement production, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) stipulated the 42.5 grade as the grade accepted one to be imported into the country and all importers complied. “Dangote Cement as a responsible market leader has continued to produce 42.5 grade in its three plants in strict adherence to the stipulations of the SON,” Edwin said.

He wondered why SON should insist on 42.5 grade as the standard for import and then allow a lower grade in terms of local production. “How come during the import era, we are all compelled by the regulatory authorities to bring in 42.5 grades and now since 2012 when import was banned, the same regulatory authorities condoned the production of 32.5 grades”

Reacting to claims by a cross section of cement manufacturers that the root cause of building collapse is not cement quality but poor use of materials especially 32.5 grade by builders, Edwin advocated that the best way to ensure safety in the construction industry is to insist on 42.5 as the grade to be produced and used in Nigeria.

He explained that after seminars and training to educate builders on how to use 32.5 grade in building, the unscrupulous ones among them still cut corners to cheat on quality.

According to him, the incidence of building collapse will be greatly reduced if operators adhere to a common quality specification leaving no opportunity for manipulations.

He debunked the claims that switching over to 42.5 grades would impact negatively on the profit margins, adding that producing the grade will lead to a marginal cost increase and it should be seen as a patriotic gesture to stem the tide of building collapse. “We place a high premium on human lives and not cost. Nothing on earth can be substituted for human lives. Those arguing that migrating from 32.5 to 42.5 will erode their profit margin are insincere and selfish as human lives are more important than profit taking.”, he said.

As part of its efforts at promoting best practices in the building industry, Edwin said that Dangote Cement in the past two years has held several trainings and demonstrations with blockmakers across the nation to educate them on how to achieve premium results using the 42.5 cement grade.

Giving a breakdown of the different grades of cement available, he noted that 92 per cent of Portland cement produced in the United States are in 52.5 and 42.5 Grades, while other imported cement from China, Japan, Denmark and Paris are all 42.5 Grade.

“Over 90 per cent of consumers are not aware of the different types of cement available in Nigeria. Their expectations with respect to the performance of cement are the same regardless of the type. The grade (quality) of concrete to be used may allow 32.5 grade cement for certain construction work such as pavements, rendering (plastering) and culverts but would demand 42.5 grade cement for structures, columns, bridges and multi storeyed buildings,” he said.

A coalition of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction industry are set to launch a major campaign for the standardization of the manufacturing and importation of the product.

The coalitions have called on the relevant authorities to initiate actions to make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria.

The stakeholders’ argument is that nearly all the cement manufacturers and importers in the country are in the habit of taking advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pigmentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5) which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of houses.

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