Chairman of
Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN), an arm of Manufacturers
Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engineer Joseph Makoju, has clarified that the
42.5 cement grade has more superior efficacy over and above the 42.5 grade
saying the recent cement standardization by the regulatory authority was in the
interest of Nigerians and Nigeria.
The
technocrat, who was a former Managing Director of Lafarge Cement WAPCO, a
cement manufacturer, was featuring at the Channels Television programme, Morning
Ride, segment titled "Cement Standardization: Setting the Record
Straight" said he was at the PROGRAMME to clarify some issues as regards
the standardization controversies.
Makoju
debunked certain claims by a guest who featured at the programme, whom he
accused of misrepresenting his submission at a public hearing conducted by the
House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on cement pigmentation, during which
he said all stakeholders bared their minds on the issue during the hearing the
hearing.
Engineer
Makoju, popularly called Mr. cement, clarified that while he was the CEO
Lafarge Cement, between 1991 and September 18, 2000, the Company was producing
the 42.5 grade of cement and not 32.5 as claimed by the guest and some
others.
The CMAN
Chairman, who stated that the cement issue had factionalized the membership of
CMAN into two pointed out that there was no way the efficacy of a 42.5 grade
can be compared to 32.5 and that claims that some sky scrapers and bridges
built decades ago we're built with 32.5 were incorrect.
Said he
"many commentators on the issue of cement standardization are ignorant of
the issues at stake, stakeholders particularly COREN at the House of
Representatives hearing laid claim to certain facts which made me to intervene,
especially on the issue of structures built with 42.5 cement grade but which
are now being touted to have been built with 32.5 grade.
"I was
Lafarge MD between 1991 and 2000, we were producing 42.5 then, they must have
switched over to 32.5 at my exit"
He stated
that while knowledge of application of cement is key, it will be grossly out of
place to say cement is cement as some people have been arguing. "It's like
saying a 250 mg antibiotic capsule is the same as 500mg. Who does not know that
500mg is more efficacious with more strength", Makoju maintained.
Makoju
explained that there have been so many achievement recorded in the cement
industry that should be celebrated but lamented that the unwarranted
controversies on the standardization has taken the shine away. "More
cement are being produced locally and we have moved the nation away from
reliance on import and we even now export having met local consumption
demand"
Engineer
Makoju, who is an honorary Adviser, to Aliko Dangote, the President of Dangote
Group debunked the insinuation that the new cement standardization by the
regulatory authorities was meant to create a monopoly for a cement manufacturer
like Dangote Cement which produces over 65 percent of total production of
cement in Nigeria.
According to
him, many people shy away from investment in manufacturing and prefer business
that can bring in quick money, but when they see someone like Dangote who
continues to invest without looking back, when it's time for harvest,
those of them who pulled out would be crying of monopoly.
He gave an
instance of the Refining and Petrochemical business where lots of licenses were
issued by government and all the company went to sleep until Dangote came up
and began practical construction. "In the next five years now when
begins production and invest more for expansion, those who collected license
but did not do anything would be crying of monopoly.
That is
Nigeria for you, at any event is anybody prevented from investing and
expanding?. You have your choice, Dangite should be commended for his abiding
faith inNigeria with his continuous investment. We need more like him in
Nigeria"
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