By Ekpo Duke, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, has assured Holcim Cement, the new majority owner of Lafarge Africa PLC, of his administration’s full support to strengthen the company’s investments and drive sustainable economic growth in the state.
The assurance came during a courtesy visit by a high-powered delegation from Holcim Cement in Calabar, where Governor Otu welcomed the multinational’s expanded global capacity and renewed commitment to Cross River.
“We have come a long way together. What excites me most is that beyond cement, you are now bringing additional investments in areas such as waste management and infrastructure. This marriage will be a strong one, and I assure you that Cross River is safe, stable, and open for business”, Governor Otu said.
The Governor commended Holcim and Lafarge Africa for their corporate social responsibility interventions, which he said had benefitted host communities and improved livelihoods.
He pledged government’s readiness to partner with the company on infrastructure development, including jetties, terminals, and other projects, while highlighting the state’s natural endowments and investor-friendly policies.
Governor Otu emphasized that the partnership with Holcim would open new frontiers of growth, job creation, and prosperity in line with his administration’s People First agenda. He noted that with Holcim’s expertise and the state’s resources, Cross River was well-positioned to become a hub for industrial expansion.
Vice President of Holcim Cement, Mr. Xu Gang, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to deepening its investments in Nigeria, particularly in Cross River. He stressed that Holcim’s ambition extended beyond its acquisition of Lafarge Africa, focusing on new areas of sustainable growth.
“We did not come just to acquire Lafarge. Our vision is to expand, invest more in people, and grow capacity. We are committed to supporting local communities and making Cross River a model for sustainable investment”, Xu Gang stated.
Also speaking, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa PLC, Mr. Lolu Alade Akinyemi, described the Mfamosing plant in Cross River as Nigeria’s largest cement plant and a strategic asset to the national economy.
He praised Governor Otu for his investor-friendly leadership and expressed optimism about the future.
“Your Excellency, Lafarge Africa is part and parcel of Cross River. With Holcim as our new majority shareholder, we are confident that the future holds even greater opportunities in employment, training, and sustainable development for our host communities”, Akinyemi assured.
The visit, which comes on the heels of Holcim’s acquisition of majority shares in Lafarge Africa, underscores the multinational’s plan to expand its footprint in Nigeria beyond cement to include aggregates, waste management, and infrastructure solutions—investments that could reposition Cross River as a major industrial and logistics hub in West Africa.
