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Tag: Lafarge

  • Lafarge eyes housing deficit reduction through microfinance academy

    Lafarge Africa Plc, a member of the LafargeHolcim Group, has launched the Lagos State Chapter of its Housing Microfinance Academy, which is to provide capacity building to Microfinance Banks to enhance accessibility of housing credits for the low to middle income segments of the society.

    The move, which is a corporate social responsibility of the group, is aimed at allowing low income earners own homes, reduce the 17 million housing deficits in the country and it is as a result of the success of the pilot scheme of the affordable housing initiative called ‘Lafarge Ile Irorun’ done in Sagamu last year.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Aggregates and Concrete, Lafarge Africa, Mr Loren Zanin said this over the weekend at the launch in Lagos, saying: “the ‘Lafarge Ile Irorun’ (meaning house of comfort), has gone a long way and expanded nationally, adding that it is the reason it is now called ‘Lafarge Easy Home.’ He said in just two years, it has enabled 2,000 families to build their homes, allowing a total of 10,000 Nigerians to become homeowners.

    Zanin said: “Nigeria has from the start been one of the key countries for our affordable housing initiative and what was done in Sagamu, the first housing microfinance programme ever in this country was through the partnership with LAPO Microfinance Bank and the support of the Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD), that dedicated a five million Euros credit line to LAPO Microfinance for this.”

    On the reason for Lafarge’s involvement, Zanin said the challenge of providing access to housing for low-income earners has special importance within Lafarge Africa Plc, as it sees it not only as a challenge of the times, but also as an opportunity which is fully aligned and central to its strategic objectives.

    “This initiative was launched four years ago in the perimeter of Lafarge group and over the period, Lafarge has developed projects in 18 countries. This initiative is unique as it combines two objectives, which are finding new ways of doing business by serving the low income segment profitably, and making an impact on the housing for millions of people. This is now a business for Lafarge which impacted more than 300,000 people over the last two years, and generated €7,2m EBITDA last year”.

    The Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr Denys Gauer said AFD, which is an arm of the French development agency, a public institution in charge of administering aid. It was involved at the pilot scheme because of the importance of the initiative. He said the academy aims to enhance the development of microfinance housing in Nigeria to build houses for the poor which is a major challenge in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the event, the Country Manager, International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Nigeria, Eme Essien said IFC is in partnership because housing is a major challenge in Nigeria as statistics revealed that there is a housing deficit of about 16.17 million units to close up in the housing sector. He said the sector has to produce over 700,000 units of housing every year but the formal sector is only churning out about 1,000 units a year and the most prolific developers in Nigeria can only churn out about 400 units a year.

    Essen said when compared with developers in Latin America and East Asia that are able to build between 5,000 and 10,000 units a year, there is a real problem in Nigeria when it comes to trying to address the housing challenge.

    Another issue in the housing sector, she said, is that most developers tend to target only the high income segment, but in places such as Mexico, there are prolific developers that are able to churn out units for about $35,000.

    Lafarge Easy Home now has operations in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Kwara, Edo and Cross River states, with, close to 200 families becoming clients of the scheme monthly.

    Head, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN’s) National Housing Fund Programme (NHFP), Mr Adedeji Adesemoye said the CBN is in the scheme because it aligns with the agenda of the NHFP and will provide housing to members of the  lower strata of the economy.

    Asesemoye said CBN is the project implementing entity of the NHFP and it is supported by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Lands and Housing and the state governments as states have the larger parts of the lands.

  • Ogun, NSIA, Lafarge partner on Forest Restoration

    The Ogun State Government, inpartnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Lafarge Africa Plc, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the joint development of Ogun State Forest Landscape Restoration Project. The MoU was signed during President Muhammadu Buhari’s state visit to France. The MOU will enable the creation of a legal entity to develop the project, engage development agencies and climate change funds, and promote it to large agriculture and forestry investors.

    The project is set to transform 108,000 hectares of heavily degraded land into an arable green area. It is designed to employ innovative approaches to achieve best-of-breed environmental, social and economic results. The first part of the area will be rehabilitated through mixed reforestation to provide biodiversity hotspots corridors, allowing nomadic herders to cross the area with their herds and encouraging subsistent farming. The other part will be leased to agro-industrial investors interested in the development of large-scale tree crop such as cocoa, coffee, rubber and oil palm as well as annual crops such as maize, sesame, cotton and cassava amongst others.

    Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, explained that the restoration and enhancement of the state’s forests benefits the environment and creates jobs in rural communities. Besides, he reckons that it will increase the pace and scale of restoration of forests, which is critically needed to address a variety of threats – including fire, climate change, deforestation and others – for the benefit of the ecosystems and forest-dependent communities. “This project will show that enterprise and achieving strong mitigation are mutually supportive in tropical agriculture,” Amosun said.

    The Managing Director/CEO, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, said that ‘the NSIA Act permits us to participate in infrastructure projects of this nature. We are therefore committed not only to promoting economic development but also to stimulating greater environmental responsibility through the projects we support and participate in. We view this project as an important investment in sustainable development and remain focused on facilitating incremental participation in initiatives that reduce carbon foot print across the country and reverse deforestation for the benefit of future generations of Nigerians’.

    Similarly, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa, Mr. Peter Hoddinott, stated that ‘Our strong commitment to the environment and social sustainability of our operations and the communities within which we operate leads us naturally to support the Ogun State project that promises strong positive impact on these issues, particularly on climate change. The use of agro-ecology and agro-forestry principles in these project will increase their productivity, ensuring the land becomes one of Nigeria’s best carbon capture areas and generating  biomass waste that Lafarge intends to use to fire its cement kilns.’

    In December 2015, France will host the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. That confab will aim to achieve a binding agreement to keep global warming below 2°C. In that context, the Ogun State Forest Landscape Restoration Project is a pioneering initiative demonstrating how a private group can join force with proactive public entities to launch sustainable projects and will position Nigeria as an African leader to launch sustainable Climate Change PPP projects

  • Lafarge, foundation kick off contest

    To promote quality education in Nigeria, Lafarge Africa Plc and Ovie Brume Foundation have commenced the Second edition of Lafarge-Ovie Brume Literacy Competition.

    It is organised yearly to promote literacy skills across public primary school pupils in the country and to engage them in activities that will showcase their ability to read, write and spell correctly.

    The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa, Peter Hoddinott said the company is committed to promoting academic excellence among pupils in primary schools across the country and creating opportunities for them to sharpen their literacy skill and build their self-confidence in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    “Education is the bedrock of development of any country and the gateway to success in life. This is why Lafarge Africa is keen about creating opportunities and platforms where Nigerian children will be given the needed support to help them realise the potential in them and achieve excellence.

    “We recorded remarkable success from the first edition and testimonials abound. More importantly, its impact on pupils and on the development of education in Nigeria is gradually growing,” he noted.

    The Executive Director Ovie Brume Foundation, Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh reiterated the Vision of the Foundation, saying: it is aimed at “a society where everyone is educated and empowered” and that by so doing, it is creating an enabling environments for young people by mobilising and dedicating resources for the provision of formal and informal education, secured livelihood, social and policy brokerage thereby enabling them to set and achieve their goals, maximise their positive energies with sufficient sense of responsibility to give back to their local communities and the country.

    According to the organisers, this year’s edition of the competition had begun with the first regional phase in Port Harcourt. From there, the train moved to the Southeast and Northeast. It would be the turn of the Northcentral on August 12, Northwest August 15 and Southwest September 16. The grand finale would hold in Lagos on September 29.

    The contest features literacy tests, essay/summary writing and Spelling Bees to evaluate reading and writing abilities.

    It is one of the CSR initiatives powered by employees of Lafarge Africa in partnership with the Ovie Brume Foundation.

     

    a non-governmental organisation focused on youth education and empowerment.

    Last year, Akwa Ibom State emerged winners in the maiden edition of the literacy competition to win a Kindle e-learning tablet.

  • Lafarge-Holcim merger to produce 14mtpa

    Lafarge-Holcim merger to produce 14mtpa

    The completion of ongoing Lafarge-Holcim merger is expected to produce about  14 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of cement.

    Already, the merger has increased the  production capacity of the firm to 8.5 mtpa.

    Additional 5.5metric tons (Mt) is expected from the cement giant by the time it begins full operation. This bring the total capacity to 14 Mtpa. The country’s total demand last year was 21 Mtpa.

    Lafarge-Holcim Ltd, was borne out of the merger of equals between Lafarge and Holcim  has made its debut on the Swiss and Paris stock exchanges.

    In a statement, the firm said the merger created a company with combined sales of $42 billion and operations in 90 countries.

    The firm which operates in Nigeria under the brand name of Lafarge Africa, emerged last year through the combination of Lafarge’s Nigerian and South African assets.

    Lafarge Africa Plc is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), rather than Johannesburg, a sign of Lafarge’s growing confidence in the strength of the Nigerian economy, which is Africa’s largest.

    Head, Macro Economics and Fixed Income Research at FBN Capital, Gregory Kronsten, said at the time of the listing, the proposal to list on the NSE would have been unthinkable five years ago.

    LafargeHolcim through its Nigerian listed arm Lafarge Africa Plc is the leading company in building materials in sub-Saharan Africa and has grown into a diversified building solutions group with broad product portfolio and various iconic brands.

    Its presence in Nigeria has helped to shake up the entrenched market by bringing competition, best practices and more choices for consumers.

    In accordance with the Group’s strategic vision to create a leading Sub-Saharan Africa building materials company, last year, Lafarge Africa concluded all regulatory processes for the acquisition of Lafarge S.A’s interests in Lafarge affiliate companies.

    The affiliate companies and interests held by Lafarge SA and acquired by Lafarge Africa Plc are: AshakaCem Plc 58.61 per cent of the equity shareholding held by Lafarge Nigeria (UK) Limited; and Atlas Cement Company Limited 100 percent of the equity shareholding, held by Lafarge Nigeria (UK) Limited;

    Others are Lafarge South Africa Holdings (Pty) Limited 100 percent of the equity shareholding held by Financière Lafarge S.A. Limited; and Egyptian Cement Holding B.V., 50 percent of the equity shareholding representing an indirect holding of 35.00 percent of the equity shareholding of United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited held by Lafarge Cement International B.V.

  • LaFarge Africa partners PINE to rebuild Northeast

    LaFarge Africa partners PINE to rebuild Northeast

    • Operates accident-free 1, 237 working days

    Lafarge Africa has expressed its desire to assist in rebuilding the Northeast region of the country, following the devastating effects of insurgency.

    To this end, the cement manufacturer is set to partner with the Federal Government, through the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), by contributing to drive the economic turn around and pave the way for long term economic prosperity of the area.

    Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Guillaume Roux, who spoke after a meeting with the PINE Committee led by its Chairman, Prof. Soji Adelaja, on yesterday, said the partnership was a step in the right direction for LaFarge Africa as it would ginger the firm to complete its ongoing N100 billion expansion project in AshakaCem in record time.

    “PINE has contributed to our objective of staying in business in all circumstance since the beginning of the insurgence. We are inclined to work more closely with the Committee at a time like this because we view sustainability as a core part of our business. Lafarge is not only a producer of building materials, but solutions provider for building better cities,” he said.

    Roux further the firm is a long term investor in the Northeast in particular, and Nigeria as a whole. This, he said, is evident by its continued presence and increasing investment in the region, in spite of the security challenges.

    Prof Adelaja said the partnership is imperative as it steps up the leadership role of Lafarge as a corporate entity that identifies with the region and strives to accelerate its redevelopment. He urged other operators in the private sector to “follow suit in such noble ventures, bearing in mind that the security of a nation is the bedrock for investment.”

    Meanwhile, Ogun State Comtroller, Federal Ministry Labour and Productivity, Mr Clement Fatoki, has urged industries operating in the state to commit themselves to “safety culture and standards” in their work setting.

    Fatoki said strict adherence to occupational safety and health would reduce accidents in work environments among workers and even management.

    He  spoke in Sagamu, Ogun State, at the 2015 Health and Safety Month of the Lafarge plant said industrial accidents are preventable if people commit themselves to health and safety culture.

    He lauded Lafarge for its safety standard,  saying the cement manufacturing firm “has operated the Sagamu plant for 1, 237 days running with zero accident while Ewekoro plant also recorded 506 working days without accident.”

     

  • ‘ Lafarge Plc lost N2.5b to insurgency’

    ‘ Lafarge Plc lost N2.5b to insurgency’

    CEMENT giant Lafarge Plc lost N2.5 billion to the insurgency in the Northeast between November 2014 and April 2015, according to its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Africa, Mr. Guillaume Roux.

    Roux, who visited the office of the Presidential  Initiative for the Northeast, added that the company was investing N100 billion in expansion of its business in the region.

    The cement chief said the company had decided to partner with the Federal Government in rebuilding the ravaged region.

    He said: “We have had some difficulties in the last few months and we estimate we have lost about N2.5 billion during that period.

    “We are committed to development of the region. We have a programme of N100 billion to invest. This is why this partnership is very key.”

    Roux said that Ashaka Cement, owned by Lafarge, had been in the Northeast for over 40 years.

    The company, he said, will be partnering the government in six key areas of entrepreneurship, health, skills acquisition, coal to power solution, education and technology.

    The Chairman of PINE, Prof. Soji Adelaja, described the partnership as a welcome development, saying that the company has shown the way forward in community service relation.

    He said: “We all know Lafarge is the largest employer of labour in the region. It is important that Lafarge plays leadership role in rebuilding the region and set example for other companies in CSR.”

  • Lafarge Africa wins award

    Lafarge Africa wins award

    Lafarge Africa Plc has   received an award as the best been Complying Company of the Year 2014 by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

    The award, which has to do with the extensive compliance requirements of the Companies and Allied matters Act and industry regulations by the Commission.

    According to the Chairman, CAC Board of Directors, Mr. Funso Lawal, the rationale for the award is to recognise performance and reward corporate excellence among companies operating in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of improving the country’s rating in the global competitiveness index.

    “To be eligible for consideration, companies must have complied with the requirements of the Companies and Allied Matters Act and respective industry statutes and regulations. In addition, the companies must impact on their respective industries positively through credible performance in corporate social responsibility.”

    Lafarge Africa was among 26 companies that made the final list from over 800 companies considered, with the building solutions company emerging as one of the eventual 9 winners. Former minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, presented the  awards  to the recipients, while encouraging others to imbibe the best practices of the winners.

    While thanking the regulatory agency for a well-deserved recognition, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Guillaume Roux, said: “Lafarge always ensures adherence to all  legal and regulatory requirements for its activities everywhere it operates. This is the way we operate and it is ingrained in our Principles of Actions to which every Lafarge employee is committed.”

     

  • LaFarge trains artisans on quality

    LaFarge trains artisans on quality

    As part of its efforts to ensure high quality work in construction, Cement  giant, LaFarge WAPCO, has trained some artisans in Lagos.

    The training focused on reducing incidents of failed buildings.

    The guest trainer, Soji Okesina, an engineer, who delivered a lecture titled: “Standard quality blocks in construction, said mix quality is critical to making good blocks.

    He regretted that artisans make poor and substandard blocks because of their desire to make huge profits, poor product knowledge and supervision, wrong selection of materials, poor workmanship, among others.

    Okesina said to make a quality blocks, the mixture must be in the ratio 1:8 of the materials. These include sharp sand, clean water and cement, in the ratio 720 kg of sand (that is, four wheel barrow load of sand), 20 litres of water and one 50kg bag of cement to produce 28 pieces of nine inches blocks.

    Okesina said using such mix guarantees a high strength for the block, ensures its resistance to dampness, thermal insulation, sound insulation and fire.

    He charged block makers to make sure that their molding machines are in good condition by ensuring that they are adequately maintained, especially after producing about 6, 000 blocks.

    Okesina praised LaFarge’s “Elephant Supaset” cement, describing it as “a specific application cement with an innovative formulation that meet the high standard, early strength and long term durability,” saying it is used in specialised applications, such as precast, block making, and general concrete applications.

    A distributor with the firm, Mr. Tunde Samard, who has been trading in the company’s products for over a decade, described the Supaset cement as an “excellent product with good quality, durable and affordable”.

    He urged block makers to use quality materials for their blocks if they want to remain in business.

    The Lagos Island Regional Manager, LaFarge, Mr. Segun Odukoya, said  block makers are a pillar behind the continued successes being recorded by the firm.

    “That is why we organised this training to further assist you in having a better understanding of the trade and to also cement our relationship with you as the main end users of our product. Also, it is to get an endorsement for our supaset cement brand, which is made for block molding and precast,” he explained.

    Some of the block molders at the  event also testified to the good quality of the supaset cement.

  • Lafarge rewards 48 distributors

    Lafarge rewards 48 distributors

    No fewer than 48 customers of Lafarge Africa Plc smiled home with valuable prizes, including cars, cash and electronic gadgets at the Partners Awards in Lagos.

    At the event, which held at the Intercontinental, Lagos, saw Alhaji Olasunkanmi Buraimoh Olaoshun of Temitope Enterprises emerging as the First National Winner.

    He received a brand new Sport Utility Vehicle, while Basiru Atinsola, chief executive officer, Oyinbashy Enterprises, who came second won a Hyundai Sonata executive car.

    Others who won were Alhaji Rasheed Ishola, chief executive officer, Rasheed Ishola Ventures Limited, who was presented a KIA Cerato Car as a third national winner.

    Mr. Innocent Okafor Obi, chief executive officer, Rosent Investment Limited, based in the East,  got a Hyundai ix35 jeep for winning the special recognition award for outstanding performance.

    Aside the cars, other distributors, corporate partners and outstanding sales staff of the company, also won various electronic gadgets and   corporate products.

    Chairman, Lafarge Africa Plc, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, said the scheme was put together to empower their trade partners, who have contributed to the  growth of the organisation.

    He said: “Today, we are witnessing the 10th consecutive edition of this open demonstration of our company’s appreciation of your role as a key stakeholder and partner in our business with the theme Rewarding business excellence, which I consider most appropriate for all intent and purpose.’’

    Assuring the partners of the company’s determination to support its partners to boost their performance, the chairman said the released 2014 full year financial results of the company indicated that it was able to put up a good performance in such a volatile market as an affirmation of the strength of the new company and the group’s commitment to achieving excellence.

    The Managing Director, WAPCO Operations, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mrs. Adepeju Adebayo, said Lafarge is passionate about providing world- class building solutions to home builders, through value-adding partnerships with its esteemed trade partners.

    She pointed out that the strong equity and rich heritage of the company’s flagship brand, Elephant Cement, which has been sustained for over 50 years, has made it possible for the company to contribute to the development of Nigeria.

    To further improve on the service of Lafarge, the managing director said the company had appointed field sales managers to key distributors, who were expected to provide support and traction needed to win in the highly competitive market place.

    “For more effective and efficient delivery of your orders, we have invested in trucks and at the same time acquired more bulk tankers not only to meet, but to exceed the expectations of both our trade and corporate customer,” she said.

    Mrs. Adebajo said the support the company was getting from its key stakeholders, especially distributors and end users, has remained a major factor in its growth, adding that Lafarge would continue to look for ways to sustain the relationship, which, according to her, “has culminated in a partnership that transcends the ‘buying and selling’ relationship’’.

    Responding on behalf of the awardees, the star winner,  Oshunlola expressed his gratitude to God and the management of Lafarge for they have height reached in their businesses.

    He praised the transparency and integrity of the company with its trade partners, promising to give their best to grow the brand.

  • Major investor demands better terms on Holcim, Lafarge merger

    Major investor demands better terms on Holcim, Lafarge merger

    Swiss company Holcim is under pressure to secure improved terms for its shareholders in a planned merger with France’s Lafarge.

    The planned merger with Lafarge, the parent company of Nigeria’s publicly quoted Lafarge Africa Plc, is expected to create the world’s largest cement maker.

    Holcim’s largest stakeholder, Thomas Schmidheiny, who owns about 20 per cent of the company, is demanding a better deal, Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung reported on Sunday, citing people close to the billionaire.

    The companies hope a combination, which would create a business with $44 billion in annual sales, will help them cope better with the overcapacity and sluggish demand that have dogged the construction industry since the 2008 economic crisis.

    However, analysts have seen a potential divergence in earnings prospects as opening the possibility of a renegotiation of the deal which is based on each Lafarge share being swapped for one Holcim share.

    “Pressure has been building since we first highlighted the rising probability of an adjustment in the merger terms as fourth-quarter results showed company performance diverging further and following the launch of a media campaign voicing discontentment with the deal,” Bernstein analyst Phil Roseberg wrote in a note.

    Reuters quoted SonntagsZeitung report that Schmidheiny sees two possible solutions. One is to change the exchange ratio of shares to favor Holcim investors, rather than being one-for-one. Another is a special dividend.

    The paper quoted another board member as saying the deal will not work in its current form.

    Holcim declined to comment on Monday, saying only that it was aware of the report.

    “The board of Holcim has taken note of press statements about shareholder reactions relating to the commercial terms of the combination,” Holcim said in a brief statement.

    The deal needs anti-trust clearance in five jurisdictions including India, Holcim’s biggest single market, the United States and Canada. A capital increase needed for the merger also needs to be approved by two-thirds of Holcim shareholders at a meeting due in late May or early June.

    Baader-Helvea analyst Patrick Appenzeller said Holcim would have to offer shareholders a better deal.

    “Why should the Holcim shareholders agree to the deal? It’s obviously such a bad deal when you look at the fundamentals,” said Appenzeller, who has a “Hold” rating on Holcim shares.

    “I expect a 57:43 ratio finally but that will probably only be decided ahead of the shareholder meeting,” he said.

    Holcim shares rose 0.8 per cent to 75 Swiss francs or $76 on Monday, while Lafarge slipped 1.8 per cent to 64.09 euros or $70.