A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Nigerian Bauchi State government and a US construction giant, C& C International from Florida, to establish a cement company.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, State Governor Isa Yuguda represented by his deputy, Sagir Aminu Saleh, assured that ’”Bauchi State Government will fulfil its obligation as contained in the MOU’’.
The government’s resolve to provide security to the company and the state, during the construction of the cement factory, was emphasised at the ceremony.
The company will occupy 35 km2, housing the plant, a staff estate and social facilities.
The Commissioner for Commerce Alhaji Muhiru Mai-Wada signed for the government, while Mr Alfredo Artega Jnr., Director, Technical Co-ordination and Principal Engineer, signed for C & C International. Witness to the ceremony was Mr Suraj Adebisi, Chairman Crexent Nig. Ltd, a subsidiary of C&C International.
The Bauchi-Gwana Cement Company (BGCC) in Alkaleri, as it will be known when operational, will be the second cement company in northeastern Nigeria, after Ashaka Cement company at Ashaka in Gombe State.
The project, which floated under Public Private Partnership (PPP), will have a production capacity of 1.5 million tpa of cement. This arrangement has a total cost of US$250 million through direct funding. Around US$150milion is earmarked for construction, while the balance will be for the provision of infrastructure.
Mai-Wada concluded, ‘’The cement project will open more doors for investors in gypsum, coal, oil and gas explor[ation], and other abundant minerals in the state.’’
The Commissioner added that BGCC Ltd’s intial N50 million capital is divided into 50 million Naira ordinary shares of one Naira each.