FG halts cement importation

Written by Gbola Subair- Abuja
Saturday, December 1, 2012



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The construction industry will as from 2013 fiscal year witness a boom as the federal government rolls out policies aimed at making cement available at affordable prices.

In the interim, the government said importation of cement has been cancelled with a view to promoting local production.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the policy which entailed the stoppage of cement importation and the rolling out of a new set of policies that would force down the prices of cement in the country, would be in place in 2013.

He said the federal government made the move in fulfilment of President Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to make Nigeria one of the leading cement exporting countries next year.

The minister, who informed that paper work on the policy had been finalised, said the present administration would ensure that the patronage of local goods is patronised by Nigerians as from 2013.

According to him, the acronym of “Buy Naija, create more jobs” embarked upon by his ministry, would not only be boosted next year, but also be sustained to improve the nation’s economy through jobs creation and increased wealth for Nigerians.

Aganga explained that one of the aims of the ministry was to promote the patronage of local products to promote economic growth, create jobs and generate wealth for the populace.

“To achieve this, what we need is adequate information to develop ideas for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI), trade, industrialisation and fostering of small and medium enterprises, SMEs.

DANGOTE SAID; "JUMP"

Government asked;" how high sir?"