How a 5am call from Obasanjo got Dangote into cement production

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how a 5 a.m. phone call to businessman Aliko Dangote in 2003 helped persuade him to move from importing cement to producing it locally. Speaking during the launch of the Lamu Oil Refinery, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s dependence on imported cement troubled him because the country had abundant limestone, a key raw material for cement production. Obasanjo said he asked Dangote why he continued importing cement when Nigeria had sufficient raw materials to produce it locally. “Aliko, why are you importing cement and you are not producing cement, when the raw material for producing cement, limestone, is almost everywhere?” he asked. According to Obasanjo, Dangote explained that importing and selling cement was more profitable than manufacturing it locally. See the three levels you can use to make money – Bishop Kakra Baiden explains The former president said the conversation prompted discussions on how the government could make local production more attractive. His administration subsequently introduced a policy requiring cement importers to present concrete plans for local manufacturing before they could obtain import licences. According to Obasanjo, Dangote submitted a plan to produce five million metric tonnes of cement. However, some ministry officials doubted his commitment, warning that he only wanted an import licence and would not deliver the project. Obasanjo said he backed the investment and stationed two security personnel at the construction site to monitor progress. Whenever work stalled, he contacted Dangote for an explanation. He said his close involvement surprised Dangote, who questioned why the president was paying so much attention to a private-sector project. Importers petition GRA over 28 containers at Tema Port Obasanjo explained that he considered the investment important to Nigeria’s development. According to the former president, the plant was commissioned just days before he left office. Ex-Nigerian President Obasanjo Reveals How He Pushed Dangote From Cement Imports to Africa | AC1G DR/MASource: www.ghanaweb.com
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