However, in a swift reaction to the allegation, the former Ogun State governor said that Dangote does not possess requisite approvals for constructing the structures he alleged were demolished.
Speaking when he visited his new Cement factory located in Itori Ewekoro local government area of the state, Dangote commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for persuading him to return and resume construction of the plant, which is now nearing completion and expected to commence operations next year.
Dangote said: “I think it is good we have it on record that the (cement) factory we are visiting now in Itori, you know it was because of His Excellency (Dapo Abiodun) that we came back.
“That factory was demolished twice. We started, and Governor Amosun demolished it. The second time, we started again; he demolished not only the factory, including the fencing, so we left.
“But, right now, we are coming because of His Excellency my brother, Prince Dapo Abiodun. We are now back.”
He said the facility will feature two 6,000t/day clinker production lines, covering limestone crushing, cement packaging, and shipping, further solidifying Ogun State’s status as an industrial powerhouse.
He said the facility will feature two 6,000t/day clinker production lines, covering limestone crushing, cement packaging, and shipping, further solidifying Ogun State’s status as an industrial powerhouse.
He said: “Dangote Cement is Africa’s leading cement producer with 52.0Mta capacity across the continent, of which almost 70% of our production is based in Nigeria. Our Obajana plant in Kogi State is currently the largest in Africa with 16.25Mta of capacity across five lines; the Ibese plant in Ogun State has four cement lines with a combined installed capacity of 12Mta; Gboko plant also in Benue state has 4Mta; and Okpella plant in Edo State has 3Mta. By the time we deliver Abidjan and Itori, we will be at 61mm tons per annum next year.
“It is on record that our investment in cement manufacturing made Nigeria self-sufficient in the product, effectively ending importation and marking its transformation into a cement exporting nation.
“We repeated the feat in the production of fertilizer as Nigeria is now self-sufficient, with the surplus going for the export market thereby generating foreign exchange earnings for the country.
