Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Government has dismissed claims by some host communities that it plans to use limestone deposits belonging to Nigercem Plc to power a proposed new state-owned cement plant.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, Engr. Ben Okah described the allegations contained in a recent letter written to the governor as “misinformed” and lacking any factual basis.
Okah was reacting to a letter written by lawyers on behalf of four host communities, in which they accused the state government of planning to use limestone found within their communities to power a proposed cement plant located elsewhere.
Okah, who headed the Committee on the Revitalisation of Nigercem set up by Governor Francis Nwifuru, insisted that there was “no iota of truth” in the claims that the government intended to infringe on Nigercem’s limestone deposits.
According to him, Nigercem Plc has remained dormant for more than two decades, despite Ibeto Group holding about 30 per cent controlling shares in the company.
He said the original agreement was that the cement plant would be rebuilt within three years of the acquisition, but nearly 20 years later, nothing substantial has happened.
“Nigercem today is like a forest. Assets have been stripped bare. Cables have been dug up, equipment removed, and the place is now inhabited by rats and snakes. Some former staff have not been paid for over 20 years—no compensation, no pension, nothing,” he lamented.
Okah said the prolonged inactivity had denied host communities, the state government and investors any benefits from Nigercem, despite the huge economic potential of the limestone deposits in the area.
He described the situation as “hopeless” but stressed that the state government remains willing to support Ibeto Group in reviving the company.
He disclosed that the government had been in dialogue with Ibeto Group for about seven months, including visits to the investor’s office in Port Harcourt, but noted that there were still no signs of renewed activity at the Nigercem site.
“If Ibeto starts Nigercem, it will be good for everybody—the investor, the state and the communities,” Okah said.
Addressing concerns that limestone deposits outside the Nigercem host communities are unsuitable for cement production, Okah dismissed the claim as “pure ignorance.”
He said Ebonyi State is richly endowed with large deposits of high-quality limestone suitable for cement production and other industrial uses.
Okah explained that the state’s decision to establish its own cement factory was driven by the high cost of cement, which is currently transported from distant states such as Ogun and Cross River.
According to him, the high cost of cement has continued to hamper infrastructure development in the state.
“Whether Nigercem is working or not, the state wants to build its own cement factory,” he said, assuring that the government has no intention of infringing on Nigercem’s limestone deposits.
On concerns over the proposed ₦150 billion budget for the new cement plant, Okah said advancements in technology have significantly reduced the cost of building cement factories.
He noted that the dry method of cement production has become the industry standard and is far cheaper than older technologies.
He added that the project would not be purely state-driven, revealing that private investors are already on standby to participate, and expressed confidence that cement production could commence within one to two years.
Okah also clarified that mining licences fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government, although states and landowners have roles to play.
He said host communities have the right to grant or withdraw consent over their land, stressing that no individual outside recognised community leadership structures can legitimately claim to represent landlord communities.
On allegations that the report of a committee set up to address the Nigercem crisis was being kept secret, Okah said the report had been submitted to the government and would be made public at the appropriate time.
He estimated that the state and host communities have lost billions of dollars over the past 20 years due to Nigercem’s inactivity, noting that the limestone deposits in the area remain viable for hundreds of years.
“The losses are counting in billions of dollars,” he said, adding that reviving Nigercem and developing new cement projects remain critical to Ebonyi State’s economic future.
