Sokoto, the Sokoto State capital, stood still, Thursday, for President Muhammad Buhari as he stormed the city to commission the new three million metric tons cement plant line 4 and a 48-Megawatts power plant of the BUA Cement Group.
From the airport to the company site, unprecedented crowd welcomed the President, reminiscent of his campaign tours of the North leading to the 2019 presidential elections which he won with a landslide margin.
An obviously elated Chairman of the BUA Cement Group, Dr. Abdul Samad Rabiu, told the President that the company’s cement production line will hit 17 million metric tons in 2023 when the additional three million metric tons plants are completed.
“We have continued our expansion to meet the cement demand in Nigeria with focus on export,” Rabiu said. “We have Commissioned four plants in the last four years. Two in Edo and two in Sokoto, bringing our current output to 13mmt.
“We are combining line 4, line 5 is under construction and would be ready in the first quarter of 2023.”
Rabiu assured Buhari that the plant will have spiral effects on the region and the entire country as it was the largest employer of labour in the region.
Rabiu further disclosed that 98 percent of raw materials are sourced locally, adding: “We are committed to environmental sustainability. Our power plant run on 100 percent LNG leading to reduced emissions.”
After commissioning the plant, Buhari headed to Zamfara State to condole with the people and government of the state over recent attacks by armed bandits who were recently branded terrorists.