IGBO STATES VERSUS DANGOTE: HOW IGBOS LACKED CEMENT FACTORIES

Oliver Anyabolu

In 1957, the Federal Government of Nigeria built the first cement factory in Ebonyi State commonly known as Nkalagu Cement. When the FED wanted to sell the factory, the premier of Eastern Nigeria Dr. M.I. Okpara stepped out to purchase the factory. Years later, the Igbos let the Nkalagu Cement went under and left thousands of people without employment. 

Igbos considered themselves prosperous yet there is no single cement factory in Igboland. Because of this behavior it caused an average property builder 20% more. If you spent $100,000 to build your house in Igboland, the house would have cost you $80,000.

Dangote is the richest person in Nigeria and a patriotic citizen. Dangote has singlehandedly created more employment than many states combined. Why did Igbo elites failed to attract Dangote to build cement factory in Igboland? Does it mean that Igbo elites do not care for their people?

These are cement factories owned or partnered by Dangote: (1) Benue Cement (2)Obajana Cement-Kogi State (3) Obajana Cement- Ibeshe, Ogun State (4) UNICEM Cement- Calabar
Other cement factories in the country: (5) Bauchi Cement (Gwana) Alkaeir LG (6) Bua Cement-Edo Cement (7) Sokoto Cement (8) Ashaka Cement in Kano State (9) WAPCO-Lagos State.

Cement factory is the backbone of any state; it creates massive employment direct and indirect. Igbos is now behind other regional groups in having adequate cement supply. Today, there are many graduates in various disciplines such as engineering, accounting, and family counseling without employment between five and ten years in Igboland.

Dangote is the most prosperous and dynamic person in the country and his businesses have touched or impacted every Nigerian.

Igbo elites must provide leadership if there will be economic development in Igboland , to make real progress the government will develop partnership with Dangote, industrialists, banks, and international agencies. The government will improve the system in which regulation and business transactions are transparent and enforced. Continue to promote educational training in all sectors of the economy.

Sometimes, individuals have no interest in setting up a specific industry due to lack of money, government can step out and provide such industry because of duplication. It was the FED that funded or built all cement factories in Nigeria before the advent of Dangote.

There is strong need for cement factories in the nation due to acute shortage of housing. According to Central Bank of Nigeria, the nation produces the lowest cement 91kg per capita compared with the world average of 450kg per capita. Recently, Sokoto State formed partnership with the Chinese company named Zhonghao to build a new cement factory that will cost N42billion according to industry sources. Sokoto has enormous limestone deposits.

Advocates in Diaspora will be developed and become a contact group to Igbo leaders to advice and request for reform. Igbos in Diaspora has no realistic plan to play a larger role to reshape the region. There must be sincere leadership among this group in Diaspora to form a strong pressure group. It is time to do away with all medical missions to the region, for the past 10 years no realistic role had been fulfilled.

Over 40 years, the Igbos has failed to revamp Nkalagu cement factory, the reason being Igbo leaders do not care for their people anymore.