*Says BUA is largest employer of labour in the North West region
*Sokoto ranked second Nigerian state in ease of doing business – Tambuwal
By OUR REPORTER
“I always remind Nigerians that every region, indeed every State, in Nigeria sits on huge reserves of resources. For example, in this area, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara can boast of rice production, gold and other precious metals development and of course, heavy industries like cement manufacturing,” President Buhari said.
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday commissioned a new BUA’s three million tones per annum Sokoto Cement Line 4 Plant and the ground breaking of the project’s line five plant to come alive.
President Buhari also inaugurated a 48 megawatts power plant and declared BUA as the largest employer of labour in the North West region of the country.
According to him, the Federal Government’s policies on economic diversification, job creation, and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive are working.
He pledged that his administration would continue to support serious investors to set up businesses that will take advantage of huge reserves of resources in different parts of the country.
He recounted that in 1985 as the then Head of State, he was at the same location to commission the Line 2 of the facility.
“Today, almost thirty-seven years later, to commission the fourth line is a very special day for me personally.
From Right: Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, President Muhammadu Buhari, and Chairman of BUA Group, during the commissioning of BUA’s 3m metric tonnes Sokoto Cement Line 4 Plant, in Sokoto, on Thursday 27 January, 2022.
“As you all know, one of the key economic pillars of our administration has been to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. This is necessary for job creation and indeed, for our economy and national security.
“In the past few weeks, I visited Ogun and Kaduna states where I observed many private sector investments in action. And today, I am here in Sokoto to commission this multi-billion Naira project.
“It is therefore very clear for all to see that our policies are working. Progress is gradually being made in all parts of the country,” Buhari said.
He commended BUA Cement founder, Alhaji AbdulSamad Isiaka Rabiu and his team for supporting government’s economic diversification and job creation agenda.
Buhari also commended BUA and other entrepreneurs for making Nigeria self-sufficient in cement and a net exporter of the strategic product.
“I am pleased that through these investments, BUA Cement has created employment opportunities for our citizens. Today, BUA is the largest employer of labour in the North-West region.
“I always remind Nigerians that every region, indeed every State, in Nigeria sits on huge reserves of resources. For example, in this area, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara can boast of rice production, gold and other precious metals development and of course, heavy industries like cement manufacturing.
“As a Government, we introduced policies and mechanisms to support such investments in a legal, ethical and inclusive manner.
“We remain prepared to support serious investors to set up businesses that will take advantage of these opportunities through value addition so as to take advantage of the huge market here, as well as in the greater African region and the world at large,” President Buhari said.
Highlighting other efforts to bring even development to all parts of the country, the President expressed confidence that the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas project, when completed, will bring gas for domestic and industrial purposes from the South South region to the South East, North Central and North West Geopolitical zones.
He said the AKK project would significantly reduce cost of operations for industries in the regions.
On security, President Buhari reiterated his commitment to bring peace and stability to all parts of Nigeria, listing a raft of measures undertaken by this administration to ensure that normalcy returns to the country.
The Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, commended the President for creating the enabling environment for businesses to thrive, acknowledged the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its Governor in setting up the gigantic project.
“So far, we have invested over a billion dollars in the past four years and we urge the CBN to continue to support industries like ours that use locally sourced raw materials to add value.”
He pledged that BUA would continue to invest more in the cement industry until Nigeria is self-sufficient and the commodity is made available, accessible, and affordable for all Nigerians.
“In the past 6 years, we have completed 4 plants – two in Obu, Edo State and two in Sokoto (of which this Sokoto line 4 is the fourth) with BUA’s total production capacity now standing at 11.5million tonnes with the completion of this plant.
“Next year, we intend to complete the construction of two new plants of 3 million metric tonnes each for which construction is ongoing – one in Edo and the other, here in Sokoto.”
While expressing his happiness over the gigantic industry located in his state, Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, thanked President Buhari for his efforts, BUA chief Rabiu for thinking it fit to found the huge investment in Sokoto and also promised to be supportive, at his state government level.
Apart from BUA, Tambuwal also informed the gathering about many more industries coming up which, eventually, will make Sokoto an investment destination of choice for many investors, foreign and local.
He added that in the last ranking on ease of doing business in Nigeria, Sokoto ranked second.
Dignitaries at the event include Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Chairman BUA Group, AbdulSamad Rabiu, Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Bangudu Abubakar, among others.
