<\/p>\n
Amidst expression of surprise in the market, the Management of Dangote
\nCement Plc at the weekend assured that it would evolve a monitoring
\nprocess that will ensure that profiteers do not hijack the new price cut
\nso that it would benefits the end users of the commodity.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Lagos while unveiling its new cement bags redesign in line
\nwith the demand of the Standard Organization (SON), the Group Managing
\nDirector of the Company, Mr Devakumar Edwin, explained that the new price
\nregime was introduced in the best interest of Nigeria and her citizens who
\nhave all along been looking forward to it as manufacturers continued to
\nincrease their production capacities to meet and surpass national
\nconsumption need.<\/p>\n
He said the price crash is as the company\u2019s contributions to supporting
\nthe Federal Government’s quest to reduce the overwhelming housing deficit
\nin the country andssed the hope that the development would go a long way
\ninto assisting in this regard.<\/p>\n
Edwin pointed out that reduction in the price of building materials,
\nparticularly cement, which is within the company\u2019s control is one of the
\nstrategies of reducing housing deficit.<\/p>\n
The nation\u2019s foremost cement manufacturer also unveiled its new product
\n32.5 cement grade as well as the new packaging as ordered by the SON for
\nclear distinction among the various cement grades.<\/p>\n
Said he;\u201cAs part of our efforts to make cement affordable to the ordinary
\nNigerian, we announced a price slash on all our products, last Friday. The
\nnew prices, which are exclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), represent about
\n40 per cent discount on the prevailing market price, currently hovering
\naround N1, 700. Consequently, a 50 kg bag of 32.5 Grade Dangote Cement,
\nnow sells for N1, 000, while 50kg of the 42.5 Grade goes for N1, 150. It
\nhas always been our desire at Dangote Cement Plc to reduce the price of
\nour products to enable many more Nigerians to build their own houses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giving customers hope of sustaining the downward review in prices, he
\nsaid, \u201cDangote Cement Plc will continue to appraise its pricing regime in
\nNigeria\u2019s best interest, from time to time. We are an ethical organization
\nand we believe in putting our customers first, before profits. We believe
\nin creating value for all our stakeholders in a sustainable manner. We
\nwill continue to pursue this philosophy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Edwin also debunked the claim in some quarters that the new
\nstandardization in the cement sub-sector will lead to job loss pointing
\nout that if anything it would lead to job creation. \u201cWe were not producing
\n32.5 before but because of the standardization, which comes with the need
\nto offer all our customers the benefit of choice from out bouquet of
\nproducts, we have introduced it. That is more work for more people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dangote Cement, according to him is on course towards consolidating its
\nleadership position on the continent. Before the end of the year, the
\ncompany will commission four new cement plants in Senegal, Cameroon,
\nEthiopia and Zambia. Other plants that are currently at various stages of
\ncompletion in eight other African countries, will be commissioned between
\nnext year and 2016.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the same vein, Engineer Joseph Makoju, the Honorary Adviser to
\nthe President of Dangote Group and a season operator in Cement sector said
\nthe recent development in cement sector gave him a satisfaction.<\/p>\n
While expressing happiness that Dangote Cement is leading the new price
\nrevolution, he stated that what Dangote cement has done was the first over
\nhis forty years in the cement sector. \u201cI am satisfied with what is
\nhappening now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGone are the days of scarcity when the price would skyrocketed and far
\nbeyind the reach of the people. But today we are celebrating a price cut
\nwhich has never happened before. This is possible because of increase in
\nthe production capacity which has made Nigeria to be self-sufficient with
\nopportunities for export to other countries. It is on record that Dangote
\ncement led this efforts and he deserves commendation.\u201d<\/p>\n
A representative of the SON, Mrs Cynthia Ifeagwu, a Deputy Director and
\nSpecial Assistant to the Director-General of SON, who witnessed the
\nunveiling, lauded the initiative of bthe management of Dangote Cement for
\nbeing the first to comply with the new packaging of cement.<\/p>\n
She said the Son has the mandate to protect Nigerians by ensuring they
\nhave quality products to consume and that the new standardization was an
\neffort at ensuring only quality products with the right application is
\nwhat is offered to the people.<\/p>\n
The SON boss warned that the Son would implement to the letter the new
\nguidelines of the cement standardization both with the manufacturers and
\nother stakeholders connected with the product. \u201cWe will sanction and
\npunish those who do not adhere to the guidelines and educate where
\nnecessary because some infractions could be as a result of ignorance and
\nnot deliberately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Ifeagwu appealed to other manufacturers of cement to follow suit
\nbecause the SON wanted a speedy compliance with the new packaging which
\nwas being carried out in line with global best practices.<\/p>\n
Chief Marketing Officer, Dangote Industries Ltd, Oare Ojeikere in his
\npresentation stated that the new product is in line with the directive of
\nStandards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) which stipulates the uses of the
\nthree grades of cement. According to him, the new cement product, 32.5 is
\nto be used for plastering only as directed by the SON. He called on
\nbuilders to adhere the directives adding that standard for cement is not
\ninvented in Nigeria but follows global best practices.<\/p>\n
He said that using the right cement grade for blocks, columns, slabs and
\npillars is very important as it is easy to change leaking roof, broken
\ndoors, leaking plumbing but not the same for defective walls, columns,
\npillars and slabs. He said that as market leaders, Dangote Cement is at
\nthe forefront of the campaign to sanitize the building and construction
\nsector.<\/p>\n
A distributor, Alhaji Bala Muhammad Getso, Chairman, Giwa Dynamic Ventures
\nLtd congratulated Dangote Cement for reducing the price of cement saying
\nthe company is protecting the ultimate users. According to him, it will be
\neasy for people to build their houses more so the cement is delivered to
\ntheir doorsteps.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Bricklayers Association, Lagos State, Akinmoladum Olaniyi
\ncommended Dangote Cement for the price cut saying that it will create more
\njobs for members of his guild. He explained that the nation will witness
\nan increase in building and construction leading to more jobs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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