Piqued by the incidences of collapse building in the country, the managing director of Dangote Cement, Mr. DVG Edwin, has warned of an imminent danger if Nigerian manufacturers were to be allowed to continue to produce low-grade cement.
Speaking at the public hearing of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on composition and pigmentation of cement product yesterday, Mr. Edwdin said Nigerians must choose between profit and saving lives.
Mr. Edwin who said his company started producing the high grade 42.5R cement since 2006, added that it is counter-productive and life threatening by allowing other manufacturers to keep pumping inferior product into the Nigerian market.
He queried why local companies should be manufacturing low grade despite government efforts to stemming the tides of collapse building in the country.
He informed that India and China had both phased out the low-grade cement being produced by Nigerian local manufacturers. According to him, in spite of the superior grade of the Dangote Cement, it has not increased its price.
“It is estimated that from 1974 to 2010, collapsed buildings had claimed over 297 lives. Dangote Group is the only cement company in the country producing the superior grade of 42.5R. The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the composition and pigmentation of cement in the country, led by its chairman Hon Yakubu Dogara, opened a public hearing Tuesday aimed at addressing the phenomenon of collapse building in the country.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the serial incidence of building collapse in the country has become a source of anxiety,” said Hon Dogara
Contributing, president of the Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigerian, Engr Joseph Makoju, said the 42.5 grade is superior cement over 32.5 and that Nigeria used to produce and import 42.5 before the coming of 32.5 grade.
Contributing, Hon Ayi Essien, a member of the ad hoc committee said Nigerians are worried about the quality of cement as well as the professional administration of the cement in construction works.