EBONYI MOVES TO ESTABLISH NEW CEMENT FACTORY IN NKALAGU

The Ebonyi State Government has commenced plans for the establishment of a new cement factory in Nkalagu as part of efforts to accelerate industrialization, create jobs, and boost economic development across the state and the Southeast region.

Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru disclosed this on Monday while conducting a team of Chinese contractors, manufacturers, designers, and builders on an inspection tour of the former NIGERCEM site in Nkalagu.

According to the governor, the decision to establish a new cement plant was informed by the numerous challenges and bottlenecks associated with the reactivation of the old NIGERCEM factory.

Governor Nwifuru revealed that preliminary geological findings confirmed the availability of massive limestone deposits capable of sustaining cement production for decades.

“We have 50 million tons of limestone in Nkalagu and 23 million tons at Effium. Combined, they can sustain the factory for a minimum of 30 years,” he stated.

The governor expressed optimism that the proposed factory would become fully operational within a short period, generating employment opportunities for thousands of residents while reducing the cost of building materials across Ebonyi State, the Southeast, and Nigeria at large.

He emphasized that the project is not politically motivated but forms a critical component of his administration’s industrialization agenda under the People’s Charter of Needs.

“As a government committed to fulfilling its social contract with the people, this project is not driven by politics or personal interests. It is part of the industrialization component of the People’s Charter of Needs, and it is a project we must execute,” Nwifuru said.

The governor further explained that the visiting expatriates were brought to assess the limestone deposits and provide technical expertise necessary for the successful execution of the project.

Insisting on transparency, Governor Nwifuru assured that neither he nor any political office holder would acquire shares in the proposed factory upon completion.

He also disclosed that the foreign partners had assured the state government of timely completion of the project, a development he said would significantly advance his administration’s vision of transforming Ebonyi into an industrial hub.

Governor Nwifuru commended stakeholders who have supported the state’s industrialization drive and particularly praised the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, for his sustained interest in the reactivation of the old NIGERCEM facility.

It would be recalled that the Ebonyi State Government earmarked ₦150 billion in its 2026 budget for the establishment of the new cement factory, underscoring its commitment to driving industrial growth and economic expansion in the state.