BUA Cement’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, Yusuf Binji, announced that the company has signed an agreement to expand its production line in Sokoto, increasing its installed capacity to 20 million tonnes annually. Over the past eight years, BUA Cement’s market share has grown from two percent to over 30 percent.
At the 12th anniversary celebration of the business partnership between BUA Group and CBMI Construction Company Limited in Abuja, Binji expressed the company’s goal to become Nigeria’s leading cement producer, ensuring cement is both affordable and widely available. He highlighted that BUA Cement began with a capacity of about 500,000 tons and has since expanded to over 17 million tons per annum.
He stated, “We have established a strong brand with our products, Bua Cement and Sokoto Cement, which are recognized as the best in Nigeria. We are seeking endorsement from the engineers present here today.”
Binji also emphasized the ongoing partnership with CBMI, covering various projects, operation, maintenance, and mining. He acknowledged the challenges faced but noted significant developments, such as the merger of Edo Cement Company and the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria to form BUA Cement in 2019, which was subsequently listed on the Stock Exchange in January 2020. BUA Cement is now the fifth-highest capitalized company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
BUA Group Chairman, AbdulSamad Rabiu, expressed gratitude to CBMI for their support, emphasizing the partnership’s foundation on mutual trust, collaboration, and efficiency.
Reflecting on BUA’s journey, Rabiu recalled that in 2008, then-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua recognized the need to boost cement production in Nigeria, which at the time produced only three to four million tons, covering just 40 to 50 percent of the country’s demand. The government invited six companies from different geopolitical zones to participate in the cement industry, with BUA Group representing the northwestern region. Despite initial unfamiliarity with the cement business, Rabiu accepted the invitation.
Rabiu described the initial challenges, such as limited terminals for importing cement, which prompted BUA to acquire a cement floating terminal from Europe. Their first year of operation was successful, revealing the potential of the cement business. BUA then acquired a small company that included Edo Cement, expanding their operations further.
Facing the challenge of erecting a cement plant, BUA turned to CBMI from China after European companies were unwilling to come to Nigeria. CBMI not only provided the erection but also supplied equipment and handled civil construction. BUA has built seven production lines with CBMI and is about to sign a contract for an eighth line.
