The controversy surrounding Nigeria’s first indigenous premium cement factory, NIGERCEM, deepened as Ebonyi State defended its plan to establish a new cement plant, while accusing major shareholder Chief Cletus Ibeto of obstructing efforts to revive the moribund factory.
Since its concession to Ebonyi State in 1996, shortly after the state’s creation, NIGERCEM has remained largely inactive, prompting debates over the best path forward for industrial development in the region. Last week, host communities raised concerns that the state’s plan for a new cement factory could signal the abandonment of NIGERCEM, warning that decades of hope for its revival could be dashed.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Chidi Onyia, rejected claims that the government lacked interest in revitalizing NIGERCEM. He stressed that the state has taken concrete steps, including forming committees to explore options, but progress has been hampered by Ibeto’s reluctance to cooperate. Onyia alleged that the core investor has consistently withheld critical information, discouraged potential partners, and mobilized local protests against government initiatives.
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The commissioner noted that ownership complications, particularly the disproportionate shareholding by Ibeto, have made revival efforts difficult. While other companies expressed interest in partnering to rejuvenate the factory, they were reportedly discouraged by conditions imposed by the major shareholder.
Highlighting the deteriorated state of the NIGERCEM infrastructure, Onyia argued that establishing a new factory could be more economically viable than attempting to revive the old plant. “To be honest, talking about revitalization now is almost the same as starting afresh,” he said, adding that cost considerations must guide government decisions. “If it will cost ₦500 billion to revive NIGERCEM and ₦300 billion to build a new cement factory elsewhere, which option would any rational government choose?”
On allegations that the government intends to exploit limestone deposits in Nkalagu exclusively for a new factory, Onyia dismissed such claims, emphasizing that Ebonyi State is richly endowed with limestone across multiple locations, including Ngbo, Inyaba, Umuezoka, Edomie, and Ebonyi LGA. He noted that even during NIGERCEM’s operational years, limestone was sourced from areas outside Nkalagu.
Addressing environmental concerns, including abandoned mining pits, the commissioner acknowledged past regulatory lapses but pledged that the current administration is enforcing compliance with federal mining laws and reclamation standards. He reiterated that the state remains committed to industrializing Ebonyi through revitalizing existing assets and creating new factories via public-private partnerships.
Meanwhile, Chief Cletus Ibeto reaffirmed his commitment to restoring NIGERCEM. He accused politicians in the state committee of pressuring him to disclose sensitive business information, which he refused. “I have valid mining leases for NIGERCEM up to 2045 and solid plans to revive the factory this year. No one can stop its restoration,” Ibeto said, insisting that his focus remains on bringing back the factory’s lost glory.
