The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said that his company decided to go back and invest in Ogun State because of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration’s vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting investors as well as the investor-friendly climate that exists in the state.
Dangote, who stated this on Monday during a courtesy visit to the governor in his office at Oke-Mosan Abeokuta, said Ogun State is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria by crafting itself as the manufacturing ‘bedrock’ of Nigeria.
He said: “I will like to commend in a special way my good friend and brother, your Excellency,the governor of Ogun State, for your vision, and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through an immense support for the private sector which is now attracting investors.
“Our factory at Itoro was pulled down twice. When we started the second time, they did not only demolish the factory, but also the fence, so we left. But right now, because of his Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back. When you get to the factory, you will be surprised at what we have done.
“We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of your policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say we are back and are going to work with the state government and return to Olokola and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country,” he pledged.
Giving an update of the company’s ongoing projects in the state, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said two new lines of 6.0 million metric tons per annum cement plant has been constructed at Itori, while the 12 million metric tons per annum cement plant is also domiciled at Ibeshe.
On completion, the Chief Executive assured, the total capacity of the company’s cement plants in the state would be in the neighborhood of 18 million metric tons per annum, making it the highest cement producing state or region in Africa.
” With the contributions of other cement producers in the state, Ogun remains far ahead of other countries across Africa in terms of cement production,” he said.
Dangote cement, according to the Dangote Group President, is the leading cement producer in Africa with 52.0 metric tons per annum capacity across the African continent.
He added that 70 percent of the production is carried out in Nigeria with Obajana plant in Kogi state accounting for 16.25 metric tons per annum, the largest in Africa.
He said investment in the manufacturing of the product had made the nation self-sufficient in cement just as the country is now self-sufficient in fertilizer with the surplus going for the export market thus earning the nation the needed foreign exchange.
While noting that the company’s target is to make Nigeria sufficient in whatever she consume, Alhaji Dangote informed that the company is currently meeting domestic demand for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from its 650,000 barrel per day refinery at Ibeju- Lekki, as well as refined aviation fuel and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Nigeria, he said, is a growing economy, hence the need for private companies to complement government efforts, assuring that his company would continue to demonstrate its belief in the nation and its people to make investments targeted at transforming the nation’s economy.
He appreciated traditional rulers and people of Itoro for their support and show of partnership which enabled the smooth and speedy take off of the cement plant, adding that the encouragement from the people of Yewaland had engendered smooth operations, assuring of continued adherence to its Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities.
Responding, Governor Abiodun, described the day the Dangote Refinery groundbreaking was performed in Lagos as “the day of heartbreak for sons and daughters of Ogun State as they watch helplessly on the television”, saying it was an indication that the project had left Olokola.
He said: ” I want to thank you for coming back to Ogun State and also for your belief and trust in your country, Nigeria. I want to thank you for all that you have done, the number of people that you have employed, the impact you continue to make not just in this state, but Nigeria as a whole.
” The way you selflessly continue to promote this country all over the world, we can’t thank you enough. Your life and story continue to be an inspiring narrative to all young men. You have excelled in everywhere you touch, you have the Midas touch.
“These are indeed giant strides. For us in Ogun State, we welcome your flight back into the state. Today is the day of history, March 17, 2025, the same March when you did the groundbreaking in Lagos of the refinery and you are now coming back in the month of March to Ogun State.
“Not only have you chosen to complete Itori, you have chosen to come back and develop the biggest port in Nigeria. For this, I thank you “.
Abiodun emphasized that with the establishment of the Itori cement plant proposed to produce six million metric tons of cement per annum and the existing Ibeshe plant, producing 12 million capacity, cement production in the state would total 18 million metric tons per annum, masking it the largest cement producer in Nigeria and the sub-Saharan Africa.
The governor lauded the company for not shirking on its Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities, just as it is currently constructing the Inter-change-Papalato-Ilaro road, assuring that his administration is ready to work with the company for the good of the state and the nation as a whole.
