Host communities of the Nigerian Cement Company (Nigercem Plc) in Ebonyi State have expressed strong opposition to the state government’s plan to establish a new cement plant, warning that the move could undermine their land rights and the legal status of Nigercem Plc.
The communities made their position known in a letter dated January 7, 2026, addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru through their legal representatives, Gamzaki Law Chambers.
The host communities—Nkalagu, Umuhuali, Amezu, and Nkalaha, all located in Ishielu Local Government Area—accused certain political interests of attempting to override existing legal agreements and subsisting court judgments relating to Nigercem Plc.
According to the letter, Ibeto Group lawfully acquired majority shareholding in Nigercem Plc in 2010, becoming its core investor. The communities recalled that the subsequent revocation of Ibeto Group’s mining lease by a former Ebonyi State administration was challenged in court, with judgments delivered between 2010 and 2013 in favour of Ibeto Group and the host communities.
They further stated that during the last electioneering period, assurances were given by the present administration that it would work with Ibeto Group to revive Nigercem Plc.
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While acknowledging the constitution of a 15-member committee in August 2025 to engage stakeholders on the matter, the communities expressed concern that the committee’s findings or recommendations have yet to be made public.
They also faulted the Governor’s announcement during the 2026 budget presentation, in which he disclosed plans to borrow ₦150 billion to build a new state-owned cement plant.
The communities raised additional concerns over a meeting reportedly held on December 31, 2025, during which certain individuals allegedly issued a fresh “consent letter” aimed at nullifying previous agreements granted to Ibeto Group.
They maintained that the proposed site for the new cement plant lacks commercially viable limestone deposits and argued that any such project would inevitably rely on limestone located within the existing Nigercem host communities.
Rejecting the authority of what they described as an unauthorized and self-appointed committee claiming to represent them, the communities stressed that they are not opposed to development or genuine efforts to revive Nigercem Plc.
However, they warned that they would resist any attempt to reduce Nigercem to a mere limestone extraction site or to deprive them of the benefits of industrial development through political manoeuvring.
The communities called on Governor Nwifuru to convene an inclusive town hall meeting, halt all unauthorized representations, make public the state government’s technical and financial plans for reviving Nigercem Plc, and suspend any actions capable of altering ownership or mineral rights pending wider consultation.
They concluded by reaffirming their willingness to engage constructively but insisted that they would not accept any arrangement that compromises their rights or long-term interests for political convenience.
Efforts to obtain comments from the State Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Chidi Onyia, were unsuccessful as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages as of the time of this filing.
