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Tag: BUA

  • BUA, Finnish firm seal 48Mw power project

    BUA Group has signed a contract with Wartsila Oy of Finland for the construction of a 48 megawatt (Mw) power plant for Sokoto Cement line three in Sokoto State.

    This is coming two months after the firm announced that it has signed a contract with world’s renowned cement manufacturing company, CBMI, for the construction of a new cement line in Sokoto State.

    While the Executive Chairman/CEO, BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, signed for the group, the Head of Africa, Wartsila Oy, Magnus Miemois signed for the multinational company known to provide services for power suppliers, marine, cement and mining industries.

    The BUA chief said the Group was attracted by the incredible track record of Wärtsilä, who has provided 1000Mw of electricity in Africa and has 70 GW of installed power plant capacity in 177 countries around the world. Rabiu, who expressed confidence in the construction of the ultra-modern power plant, said Sokoto Cement lines, when combined, has a total of about 100 Mw of captive power.

    “We can’t compromise on our quality. We are known to provide quality products and services to our customers and we are assured that Wartsila aligns with this vision of ours. They have an impeccable and intimidating track record and we are confident that they will deliver on their mandate,” he said.

    BUA is the Nigeria’s second largest cement producer by volume with key focus on solidifying its leadership positions in the Northwest, Southsouth and Southeast Markets as well as the export markets in West Afica.

    BUA’s cement assets include the 6million MTPA Obu Cement I & II plants in Okpella, Edo State and CCNN’s 1.5million MTPA Kalambaina Cement Plant; and 500,000 Sokoto Cement Plants.

  • BUA rewards customers with over 20 cars, cash

    BUA Group at the weekend rewarded its customers and distributors with 25 cars worth over N500million and cash gifts in appreciation of their support and loyalty to the growth of the company. The event tagged “Celebrating Excellence: 30 Years of Unlocking Opportunities was attended by captains of industries and banks, staff, friends, among other dignitaries.

    The Executive Chairman/CEO, BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu expressed gratitude to the customers for believing in the vision and mission to build a world class company, assuring that with their continued partnership would take the Group to higher height.

    He said BUA started as a trading company, importing various commodities into Nigeria, saying that the company’s achievements was made possible with the support and loyalty of customers, partners, employees, family and friends. “This is a celebration of You – our valued customers, partners, employees, family and friends whose support and loyalty has helped us grow the BUA brand from its days as a trading company to one of Nigeria’s largest manufacturing concerns. We could not have done this without you.

    “I recall when we started as a small trading outfit, importing various  commodities into Nigeria, to when we set up our edible oils processing  plant to add a little bit of value. From then on, we went into Flour Milling, Sugar Refining, Pasta Production and cement bagging with our BUA Cement1 Floating Terminal – an innovative solution at that time.”

    Abdul Samad he was driven by a hunger to do even more in terms of Production across the value chain, saying, “we ventured into ports operations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Sugar Plantations with over 70,000ha in Lafiaji and Bassa in Kwara and Kogi states, and cement manufacturing with our plants in OBU and Sokoto.  These two cement plants have a combined capacity of over 8million tonnes making us the second largest producers by volume in Nigeria as of now.”

    He said one of the Group’s subsidiaries, Sokoto Cement (CCNN Plc) which is a listed entity, is now the eighth largest company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of over N300billion, adding that the Group’s social pact within its  communities and the country as a whole, has also been strong. “We have embarked on various social intervention and impact activities across healthcare, education, water and sanitation to sports, poverty eradication, and environmental sustainability, amongst others,” adding, “we have firmly put a human face to our business.”

  • BUA, CBMI sign 3million Kalambaina Cement II Plant

    BUA Group said it has signed another contract with world’s renowned cement manufacturing company, CBMI, for the construction of a new 3million metric tons per annum (mtpa) Kalambaina Cement Line 2 in Sokoto State, Sokoto State.

    This coming less than one week after the listing of the almost $1 billion merger between BUA Kalambaina Cement Company and Cement Company of Northern Nigeria where it also assumed majority stakes in the enlarged company,

    This comes barely 90 days after the completion of another 3million Mtpa  BUA Obu Cement line 2 in Okpella, Edo State, seven months after the commissioning of its 1.5million mtpa Kalambaina Cement Plant line 1 in Sokoto  thus bringing BUA Cement’s total installed capacity to 11million mtpa by the time the new project Is completed.

    Speaking at the contract signing ceremony,  Executive Chairman/CEO, BUA Group and Chairman of CCNN, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the construction of the new  line was in line with BUA Cement’s strategic midterm expansion programme.

    According to him, the local market is still greatly underserved and with the projected growth in major infrastructure projects and spending over the next few years. It is therefore important that local manufacturers are able to scale effectively to meet current and projected demand.

    Rabiu added that the partnership between BUA and Sinoma CBMI is not the first as they were responsible for constructing the first BUA Kalambaina plant in Sokoto.

    Chairman of CBMI, Mr. Tong Laigou, said: “We are very confident that Sinoma CBMI possesses the necessary technical expertise given their track records in deploying cement plants across the world. “ He signed on behalf of CBMI construction.

  • BUA begins testing at Okpella plant

    BUA Cement has started testing its three million Obu Cement plant, Okpella in Edo State. This will bring the total capacity of BUA Obu cement operations to six million tons and move the entire Group’s installed capacity to 8million metric tons per annum (MTPA).

    A date for commissioning is to be announced soon according to the statement from BUA Group.

    Speaking at a business forum, Founder & Executive Chairman of BUA Group – owners of BUA Cement, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the completion of BUA’s Obu Cement second line puts BUA Cement in prime position to be Nigeria’s second largest cement producers by volume in a short while.

    Rabiu said: “Through a strategic combination of BUA Cement’s newer, more energy efficient plants and the proximity of our factory locations to key regional markets across Nigeria, BUA Cement has in no time become the industry leader in capacity utilisation as well as maintaining a strong presence and brand leadership position in regional markets where it operates.

    Rabiu
    Rabiu

    The testing of the latest plant comes less than six months after commissioning its 1.5million mtpa Kalambaina Cement Plant in Sokoto state, BUA Cement, has announced that it has completed construction of its newest Cement Factory – The 3million MTPA Obu II Cement plant, Okpella in Edo State, Nigeria.

    BUA Cement has also entered into a partnership with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and Industrial Training Fund to train thousands of blockmakers across Nigeria on the proper mix and techniques for blockmaking to reduce the rates of building collapse in Nigeria.

    The completion of the new three million mtpa BUA Obu II Cement Plant will see BUA’s installed capacity rise to eight million metric tons by the time it fully becomes operational next month. The plant has the capacity to run on multifuels – gas and heavy oils, and will give BUA Cement a stronger foothold in the South-South and South East markets in Nigeria where it has become the preferred brand of cement. By virtue of its location in Okpella, Edo State, BUA Obu Cement plants are 5hours away from all the major markets across Nigeria.

    BUA Group announced last year that it built a 50km pipeline to carry gas to fire its gas turbines at its Obu Cement Plant.

  • Customs seizes smuggled goods worth N500m in Bauchi

    The Federal Operations Unit (FOU)‎ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Zone D, has seized smuggled goods worth N50 million across the nine states of the zone according to Mr Peters Olugboyega, the Comptroller of the zone.

    He made the disclosure while briefing Journalists in Bauchi, adding that the goods were seized from various locations in the zone.
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    Olugbenga said the seized goods include: 1,963 cartons of Spaghetti, 780‎ gallons of vegetable Oil, 300 bags of parboiled rice concealed in BUA Sugar bags and 90 Bales of second hand clothing
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    According to him, the goods are accosted while being transported ‎in three J5 Buses and two trucks at different locations.

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    ‘”The truck carrying 1,963 cartons of Spaghetti and 780 Jerrycans of Vegetable oil was yesterday impounded along Potiskum-Gombe road.
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    “The three J5 buses conveying 90 Bales of second ‎hand clothing, each fully loaded with 30 Bales

    were today impounded by our personnel on patrol along Kano-Bauchi road

    “The Mercedes-Benz truck with the concealed bags of Rice was impounded by our men along Jos-Bauchi road on last Saturday.

    “The total worth of the goods is about N500 million, ” he said.

     

    Read Also: Youths injure policemen, destroy patrol vehicle in Jos
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    The Comptroller noted that smuggling, had over time affected the country economy, leading to huge losses ‎in the revenue drive of the country.

    Olugbenga expressed the commitment of the Service to reduce the menace to the barest minimum.
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    He said that drivers of the vehicles ‎carrying the smuggled items were arrested and would soon be prosecuted alongside the smugglers.
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    He warned Nigerians to desist from smuggling, stressing that that anyone caught would be prosecuted according to the provisions of the law

    The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the Zone D of the Service with its headquarters in Bauchi, comprised of Borno,Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Taraba, Gombe, Plateau, Benue and Nassarawa‎ states

  • BUA Group, Rotary offer free screening to 40

    BUA Group, Rotary offer free screening to 40

    No fewer than 40 pupils of Araromi and Kinniun Ifa Nursery/Primary School, Gbagada, Lagos have received free screening for ear, nose and throat courtesy of Rotary Club Gbagada South and BUA Group.

    Rotary Club President Ademola Olutusi said they embarked on the project to enable the pupils to be attended to while they were still young. He said some of these diseases were better tackled at a young age, rather than wait until one was old when it would have been too late.  He said after the screening, if there was the need for referrals, the medic would say so. He thanked BUA Group management for sponsoring the programme. He also thanked Pama Specialist Centre for giving them a discount on their charges.

    BUA Group Content Developer Adedeji Odutola said the programme was one of the company’s corporate social responsibility’s (CSR) initiatives of giving back to the society and that the company was happy to partner Rotary Club.  He added: “We are a big organisation and we will continue back to the society.’’

    Dr Vincent Adekoya of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) advised the pupils to take care of their ears, noses and throats, adding that they should avoid the use of hard objects to either clean or scratch them when they are itching.

  • Obaseki’s proactive steps to prevent crisis in Okpella

    Obaseki’s proactive steps to prevent crisis in Okpella

    From Kaduna to Rivers and Benue states as well as other parts of the country, the stories of woe over the senseless killing of Nigerians abound.

    While the issues are not exactly the same, there is however a common narrative about the alleged failure of the governors of the affected states in arresting the issues at their early stage before they snowballed into full-blown crises.

    Crisis management experts contend that the best strategy to preventing crisis, irrespective of the scale, is the proactive approach. It is cost effective and less likely to lead to the loss of lives and property.

    The brewing tension in the quiet town of Okpella, in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, a solid minerals bearing community could become the hot bed for killings and counter killings if urgent steps are not taken.

    Newspaper men have had their share of the ‘fight’ with the advertorials and counter advertorials on the ownership of the Obu mine site located in Okpella, that have dominated the pages of newspapers in the past weeks, sponsored by both Dangote and BUA, both cement manufacturing companies.

    The lingering legal tussle between Dangote and BUA International Limited, is being followed keenly by stakeholders in the solid minerals sector and other stakeholders.

    Beyond the court hall where the Obu case is being adjudicated upon, the growing tension in Okpella could claim several lives.

    Worried by the failure of BUA to abide by a simple Stop Work Order and the likely consequences, the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, with officials and personnel of various security agencies effected the arrest of staff of BUA Cement after shutting down the mine site, to prevent any crisis.

    Followers of the BUA-Dangote case commend governor Obaseki’s action, more so considering security intelligence that BUA is raising a militia as part of a grand plan to adopt extra-judicial means to continue mining activity on the Obu mine site.

    However, a few hired commentators on the issue have blamed Governor Obaseki’s action. Understandably, the commentators are paid and do not appreciate the bigger picture and the obligation of a state governor to his people in a matter that could throw the community into a theatre of war.

    In Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom is in the eye of the storm as Benue people protest the alleged killing of their people by suspected Fulani Herdsmen.

    No excuse or defence is acceptable to the people who have lost their relatives to the mayhem. Ortom is now being called all sorts of names over the issue. Some have even asked for his resignation. They say he is not proactive and cannot protect his people. Perhaps Ortom may have taken some proactive steps which were rebuffed by his detractors.

    All his efforts to prevent anarchy, whatever those efforts may have been, which might have been resisted and ridiculed are now completely drowned in the cries of distress that followed the killing of several Benue people.

    In Edo State, Governor Obaseki is now taking proactive steps to protect his people and prevent the state from becoming another killing field and people are coming up with various conspiracy theories and wild guesses and are ignoring the real issue, which is the sanctity and safety of human life.

    To cast aspersions on Obaseki for his proactive efforts to protect the lives of his people in Okpella is senseless to say the least.

    Governor Obaseki is resolute about fulfilling his obligation to protect Edo people and will not be swayed by the cacophony of voices, knowing that he is the one that will be blamed should there be mayhem in Okpella tomorrow.

    So the governor is not listening to side talks, as he has said times without number that no amount of money is worth the life of any Edo man or woman.

    Many Benue and Rivers State people blame their governors who are the chief security officers of their respective states and no matter how long the blame game lasts, the dead are gone. No amount of blame trade will bring them back.

    Obaseki has resolved to ensure that this is not the fate of Edo people in Okpella or elsewhere in Edo State.

    Very likely, if the issues that led to the various crises mentioned above were tackled by the governor and all the people without prejudice, at the early stage, the senseless killings might have been avoided.

    Osagie is the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy

  • ‘Edo clamped down on BUA to forestall violence’

    ‘Edo clamped down on BUA to forestall violence’

    Edo State government has countered a claim by BUA International that it adopted “a gestapo-style to  shutdown Obu mine site” in Okpella on Wednesday.

    It described the claim as ludicrous.

    In a statement yesterday in Benin City, Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy Mr. Crusoe Osagie said the government’s primary duty is to ensure peace at all times.

    He said BUA’s statement was fraught with contradictions and urged the company to behave as a decent corporate citizen.

    ”In the first paragraph of BUA’s statement, the company claimed that Edo State governor effected a gestapo-style to forcefully shutdown the mine.

    “In the next paragraph, BUA said: ‘Upon reaching the mining site and not meeting any personnel or equipment, two BUA Cement employees were invited to the mining site to receive the governor’.

    ”Are these two statements not contradictory? If no one was at the site, then why would the governor use gestapo-style to shut it down?

    ”So why is BUA spreading falsehood? The workers and equipment were being evacuated by the time we got there, and understandably, they had heard that the governor was around and were rushing out of the site. They clearly flouted the stop work order and now want to mask their violation of the order by resorting to blackmail.”

  • Dangote: BUA lies on claims to mines ownership

    Dangote: BUA lies on claims to mines ownership

    THE management of Dangote Industries Limited has again rejected  BUA Group’s claim to being the rightful owner of Mining Lease No 2541.

    Dangote, in a statement yesterday, said its reaction became necessary as a result of its status as a publicly quoted company and to further re-assure its shareholders, the regulators and members of the public that the company is and remains a responsible corporate citizen.

    Faulting  BUA’s claim that the Dangote Group is trying to monopolise the cement business in the country, the statement said BUA has willfully, deliberately and mischievously concealed the fact that it has at least 12 Mining/Quarry Leases within and around the area in question as opposed to this sole Mining Lease No 2541 owned by the Dangote Group.

    It added: “First and foremost, there is no status quo order made by any court that allows BUA to continue mining over the disputed Mining Lease area. In fact, there is no status quo order at all. It is critical for us to point out that there is currently pending, a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction dated 27 April 2016 seeking to restrain the BUA Group from continuing with its illegal mining activities on the Mining Lease Area.

    “But in spite of having been served with this application and contrary to all tenets of the law, which forbid a party served with an interlocutory injunction motion from taking any step in respect of the subject matter of the suit, the BUA Group has in utter disdain to the court continued with its illegal mining activities.”

    Dangote said BUA applied for a Mining Lease over the same area in 2013, but the application was rejected by the ministry on the sole ground that it overlaps ML. 2541, which at the time belonged to AICO.

    “If BUA  had title that dates back to 1998, is there any conceivable reason why it will apply for the same title over the same  area in 2013?” the statement queried.

    Dangote, while debunking the claim by BUA that it is trying to monopolise the cement business, stated: “It is misleading for BUA to falsely accuse Dangote of undermining its operations and attempting to create a monopoly in the cement Industry in Nigeria, as we have always coexisted peacefully with other competitors in Obajana and Ibese.”

    The Dangote Group affirmed that it has been the one in possession of the Mining Lease since 2016 and this was recently confirmed by the Kogi State High Court’s judgment delivered on October 27, 2017 in the charge: State v. Joshua Oghene, Hon. Haruna Afegbua and Bulus Golit, which sentenced the Chief Security Officer of BUA Group, Mr. Bulus Golit to one year imprisonment without any option of fine, for attacking Dangote Group’s officials and workers in the Mining Lease No. 2541.

    “The imprisonment of BUA Chief Security Officer among other things has confirmed that the claim by the BUA Group that it has been in possession is totally fallacious,” the statement said.

  • Mining dispute: BUA welcomes Dangote’s decision to await court decision

    Mining dispute: BUA welcomes Dangote’s decision to await court decision

    BUA International Limited, owners of BUA Cement, yesterday  welcomed Dangote Cement Plc’s resolve to await the outcome of the courts’ decision on the disputed mining site in Obu, Okpella Edo State.

    The two industrial giants are feuding over the ownership of the site. They have been exchanging brickbats.

    Yesterday’s BUA statement said Dangote Group’s decision was contained  in its corporate disclosure published on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) website dated December 20, 2017 and titled, “Dangote Cement-Response to BUA Allegations.”

    BUA said its rival’s response was in line with what BUA had  always insisted on. “We appreciate the decision to wait for a judicial outcome rather than resorting to self-help and/or using influence and certain agencies of government in disrupting operations at some of BUA’s mining areas covered by Mining License (ML) 18912and ML 18913 in Obu, Okpella, Edo State,” the statement said.

    “With respect to the statement by the Ministry of Mines published in a national newspaper (not The Nation) of December 8, 2017 and alluded to by Dangote Cement in its statement, BUA said it had responded to the ministry through its lawyers and media channels .

    “BUA remains resolute and unequivocal about its stand that status quo be preserved as instructed by the Federal High Court sitting in Benin in Suit between BUA International Limited & BUA Cement vs. Hon. Minister of Mines & Steel Development and Dangote Cement Plc,” the statement said.

    It added: “For the purpose of clarity, this means that BUA remains in possession of the mining areas covered by Mining Leases 18912 and 18913 in Obu, Okpella, Edo State and will continue to exercise its rights to operate those mines in line with the dictates of the courts.

    “If anyone or any stakeholder (especially the ministry) remains in doubt as to what status quo means in this case, they are free to write to the courts for interpretation. BUA also affirms that it fully

    intends to abide by the outcomes of the judicial process as provided by the laws and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    BUA Group also expressed hope that with the statement by Dangote,

    “This will put an end to the continued cycle of harassment or clandestine moves by certain stakeholders to usurp the powers of the courts and disrupt operations at our site in a clear disregard of existing court directives.”

    The statement therefore enjoyed and urged all stakeholders involved-not limited to the Edo State Government, the ministry of mines and Steel and others parties-to also await the outcome of the

    judicial process in the interest of a competitive business climate governed by the rule of law.

    Dangote Cement Plc said on Tuesday that it was aware of several misleading media publications one of which was captioned “A Cry for Help: Wanton Abuse of Power by a Serving Minister Geared at Sabotaging Operations of BUA Cement” wherein BUA alleged an abuse of power by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for the benefit of Dangote Cement and made other unwarranted and unfounded claims Dangote Cement also drew attention to a subsequent publication released in a newspaper (not The Nation) by the ministry on December

    8, 2017, clearly stating their position on the letter by BUA and addressing the issues raised therein.

    In the said publication by the ministry titled “Our Position on BUA  Group’s Misleading Publication,” which was made available to The Nation, the ministry said, inter alia, that it “Regards the publication (by BUA) as nothing more than an attempt by the cement company to blackmail the ministry into granting free pass for illegal operations.”

    The ministry said while it does intend to join issues with BUA Group, which has an enviable history of industrial performance, it deemed it appropriate to, however, state the facts for the purpose of enlightening members of the public.

    It stated, for instance, that in its records and those of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), the BUA Group does not have a mining lease over the contentious site No. 2541ML; therefore BUA’s mining activities there were illegal.

    Among others, the ministry said it stood by the Stop Work Order issued to BUA Group and signed by the Permanent Secretary, dated October 17, 2017. It said the letter was issued after thorough investigations confirmed that “BUA Group was indeed, engaging in illegal mining of

    marble/limestone…..”

    Dangote Group,  said the issues being raised by BUA are subject of litigation by several parties. “The ongoing suits shall be resolved by the courts in accordance with their role under the Constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Dangote stated, in a statement signed by its Head of Investor Relations, Carl Franklin.