Court Stops SON from Implementing Cement Standards

The Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has restrained the Standards Organisation of NIGERIA(SON) from implementing the proposed cement standards it introduced recently.

The ruling was issued by Justice Emmanuel Obile in suit No. FHC/CA/CS/50/14  instituted by the United Cement Company of NIGERIA Limited (UniCem)  against the Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and the SON.

In the ruling, the presiding judge urged counsel to SON (the 3rd defendant) to ensure the regulatory body maintains the status quo over the proposed cement standardisation.

The judge warned the counsel to SON, D. S. Lawson– Ogaree of Rickey Tarfa (SAN) and Co., to advise their client to

Competition among cement firms leads to price drop, increased capacity

Intense competition among Nigeria’s major cement manufacturers is leading to stable and lower prices amid increased capacity by the firms as they position to meet burgeoning demand.

Dangote Cement plc, Nigeria’s leading cement manufacturing company, says it has increased its production capacity by 9 million metric tonnes per annum following the commissioning of two new production lines in Ibese, Ogun State, and one production line in Obajana, Kogi State.

UniCem, a cement manufacturer located in Cross River State, recently broke ground on an additional 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum line to double production at its plant, while Lafarge Africa has also