President
Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday announced that the Federal Government had
signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of a new
railway line that will run from Lagos to Calabar and also extend to the
Obudu Cattle Ranch.
The President made the announcement when
he performed the groundbreaking of the second cement line being
constructed by the United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited in
Mfamosing, Akamkpa Local Government Council of Cross River State.
This came just as Chairman of the Board
of UniCem, Mr. John Coumantaros, said the additional
2.5-million-metric-tonne per annum line would be constructed at the cost
of N84bn, adding that the project, which is expected to be completed in
2016, would bring the production capacity of the company to five
million metric tonnes per annum.
Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-
President Namadi Sambo, said it was commendable that barely five years
after UniCem unveiled its first line of 2.5 million metric tonnes, the
company had already concluded plans to double its production capacity.
He said, “In 2002, the Federal Government
formulated the backward integration policy for the cement industry to
facilitate Nigeria’s drive in self-sufficiency for cement production. It
should be noted that within a decade, there had been a phenomenal
growth from two million metric tonnes per annum to 39.5 million metric
tonnes per annum of installed capacity.
“We are impressed that just five years
after the first line in UniCem, we are gathered here again today for the
second line, which will add 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum to the
company’s capacity. This is ample growth of operational efficiency and
the resilience of the management of UniCem.
Speaking on the proposed railway line
from Lagos to Calabar, Jonathan said, “Indeed, I will like to state that
very soon, the 550 megawatts station will be inaugurated. Also, on the
railway line, I am also glad to inform you that the Memorandum of
Understanding for the construction of a new railway line from Lagos to
Calabar has been signed, and we hope that any moment from now, work will
commence.
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