A prominent Delta monarch, King Obukohwo Monday Whiskey, Udurhie I, has passionately appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the licenses of cement producers that were recently rescinded.
The esteemed Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom made this plea during the weekend in Asaba, stressing the importance of reconsidering the withdrawal of licenses from six regional cement factories.
King Obukohwo asserted that the reopening of the long-shuttered Madewell Cement factory would go a long way in alleviating the high demand for cement. He emphasized that the current supply from two, three, or four cement companies is insufficient to meet the needs of Nigerians.
“The government’s decision to ensure the establishment of a Portland Cement Factory in each region, separate from the major players, was commendable. These factories were initially granted licenses to import cement,” explained the monarch.
“If we desire to prioritize the development of shelter as a basic human requirement, the cement industry is too vast for just one man or one company to handle. It is an undertaking that no individual can accomplish alone.”
The monarch highlighted that reopening the Madewell Cement factory would satisfy Nigeria’s soaring demand for cement. He also criticized the decision to halt cement imports, resulting in 450 million metric tons of stranded cement in China.
“Madewell, as a key player in the industry, has been incredibly patriotic. Some of them resorted to legal action and received substantial compensation from the federal government. However, Madewell chose not to go down that path, confident that a day like this would come. Mr. President, being a receptive leader, will undoubtedly heed this vital plea and issue the appropriate order,” the monarch emphasized.
He further revealed, “Out of the approved 500,000 metric tons of Madewell Portland cement, only 50,000 metric tons have made their way to Nigeria. Within less than four to five months, this minuscule quantity was sold out. Currently, there is still over 450,000 metric tons of cement lingering in China.”
The Madewell Cement factory, situated in Otorho Idjerhe, Delta State, ceased operations 12 to 15 years ago due to manipulations by influential figures in the cement sector. The monarch stressed the immensity of the cement industry, stating that it is unfit for monopolization by a single entity.
At its peak, the factory generated 2,000 direct jobs and over 10,000 indirect jobs, contributing significantly to the Nigerian economy. It is worth noting that 500,000 metric tons of cement had been sanctioned for the factory’s operations, but only a mere 10 percent of this amount reached Nigeria before the factory’s unfortunate closure.
