The controversies generated earlier this year about cement grade for the need to phase out the production of 32,5 grade of cement which was champion by Dangote by proxy through the Standard Organization of Nigeria, now the initiative seems to be back firing on the proponents.

Dangote stand in adverse to other manufacturer was that the Nigerian built environment is not matured/literate enough to understand cement classification and usage but seems to have gone back to its vomit by the announcement of its introduction of 32,5 cement for plastering "according to SON directives" .

In full compliance with the directive of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on the various grades of cement and their prescribed uses, Dangote Cement Plc has announced plans to launch its brand of the premium 32.5 cement grade, selling N200 lower than the price of higher 42.5 grade.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos on the new development, Group Managing Director of the Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin said specifically that the 32.5 grade, which had the lowest strength among the various cement products, would be priced lower than the others and would be selling at N200 lower than the price of the higher strength 42.5 grade.

He said, “this in addition offers our numerous customers and end users the prerogative of choice and its appropriate application”.


The new product, which has been branded “Dangote Cement 1X”, Edwin stated, was in response to popular demand from the customers as well as in full compliance with the SON directive encouraging production of all grades of cement but with clear labelling on the use.

Edwin noted that the entrance of the 32.5 cement grade from Dangote would ensure that the consumer pays the appropriate price for the right value rather than paying more for lower grade as was presently the case in the market.

Edwin disclosed that Dangote Cement was currently reviewing the selling prices of its products with intent to reduce them and make the products available with the recent commissioning of additional six million metric tons per annum lines 3 and 4 in Ibese, Ogun State and another three million metric ton capacity, additional line 4 at Obajana, Kogi State.

According to the Dangote Cement GMD, the 32.5 cement grade would be clearly marked in the colour prescribed by the SON with the uses for which it should be applied, which is purely for plastering.


Dangote, with this move, now produces 42.5 for column and beam casting, block making, decking and other general purpose construction work that require high strength, while also producing the premium 32.5 grade for plastering and flooring only.

The company is also pushing out the 52.5 grade for specialized construction of high strength structures such as bridges, flyovers among others.

Edwin also disclosed that it will continue with its nationwide campaign and capacity building which it initiated and has sustained for the past 3 years, to ensure that the different grades of cement are easily identified by users and used only for their prescribed purposes.

Dangote Cement Director said in compliance with the SON standard for cement quality and packaging, the lower grade 32.5 type on the Dangote shelf would be clearly labelled as such, in order to prevent the problem of misapplication and misuse of the product, which had become rampant in the nation’s building and construction industry.

He said, “we have significantly increased the supply of cement to the market and as it is expected, the enhancement in supply of the product to the market has also resulted to a reasonable reduction in the price of the product”.


In all, the Pan-African cement company with presence in 16 African countries, is today producing locally at a combined installed capacity of 29.25 million mtpa from its three plants in the country.

http://newtelegraphonline.com/dangote-cement-launches-premium-32-5-brand/

But this is what they told us earlier this year.

Dangote Cement Plc has said it manufactures only 42.5 grade cement in all its three plants, which are located in Obajana, Kogi State; Ibese, Ogun State; and Gboko, Benue State.
It said it is not a party to the firms accused of shortchanging Nigerians by civil society group and professionals.
Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr DVG Edwin, spoke at a briefing at the weekend in Lagos.
He said: “In all our three plants, we produce 42.5 grade cement. We believe that Nigerians deserve the best and we remain steadfast in meeting the needs of Nigerians for quality, cost effective cement. We want to align with the civil society group that there is need for standards in cement manufacturing; we need to comply to set standard so that Nigerians can get the best.”
Edwin said Dangote Cement’s adherence to global best practices informed the production of 42.5 grade cement in all its factories, adding that it is stronger and has better qualities.
According to him, the cement grade possesses higher strength capability and its rapid setting quality makes it the preferred grade among block makers, builders and construction workers, and add that with quick setting, blocks come out stronger and reduces the number of breakages.
He said as part of efforts to drive quality, the firm has in the past two years, been training blockmakers on how to mould quality blocks using the 42.5 grade Dangote Cement.
He said seminars and demonstrations with block makers is a continuous exercise, which has become a vital part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at preventing building collapse.
Explaining why Dangote Cement is emphasising the production of 42.5 grade cement, Edwin said prior to the country’s attainment of self-sufficiency in cement production, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had specified the 42.5 grade as the acceptable grade for importers of cement.
He said: “Dangote Cement, as a responsible market leader, has continued to produce 42.5 grade in its three plants in strict adherence to the stipulations of SON.”
He wondered why SON should insist on 42.5 grade as the standard for import and allow a lower grade for local production.
He asked: “How come that during the import era, we were all compelled by the regulatory authorities to bring in 42.5 grades and now since 2012 when import was banned, the same regulatory authorities condone the production of 32.5 grades?”
He noted that 92 per cent of Portland cement produced in the United States are in 52.5 and 42.5 grades, while other imported cement from China, Japan, Denmark and Paris are all 42.5 grade. He said: “Over 90 per cent of consumers are not aware of the different types of cement available in Nigeria. Their expectations in respect to the performance of cement are the same regardless of the type. The grade (quality) of concrete to be used may allow 32.5 grade cement for certain construction work such as pavements, rendering (plastering) and culverts but would demand 42.5 grade cement for structures, columns, bridges and multi storey buildings.”
Reacting to claims by some cement manufacturers that the cause of building collapse is not cement quality, but poor use of materials, especially 32.5 grade, he advocated that the best way to ensure safety in the construction industry is to insist on 42.5 as the grade to be produced and used in Nigeria.
He said despite training builders on how to use 32.5 grade of cement, some of them still cut corners.
“Incidence of building collapse will be greatly reduced if we adhere to a common quality specification, leaving no opportunity for manipulations,” he added.
On claims by some cement manufacturers that switching over to 42.5 grade would erode their profit margins, Ekanem said producing the grade though would lead to a marginal cost increase, it should be seen as a patriotic gesture to stem the tide of building collapse.

“We place a high premium on human lives and not cost. Nothing on earth can be substituted for human lives. Those arguing that migrating from 32.5 to 42.5 will erode their profit margin are insincere and selfish as human lives are more important than profit taking,” he said.
The sales/marketing director of Dangote Cement also said that in the last five years, the price of cement from Dangote has remained constant despite the high inflationary rate, high cost of fuel, and infrastructure deficit, and other operational challenges. “Even though, we have consistently been producing 4.2 grade cement the price is the same for 32.5 grade,” he pointed out, noting that the company invested so much in logistics hence, the company’s cost of moving cement products is the lowest in the industry.
A coalition of civil society groups and professional bodies in the construction industry are set to launch a major campaign for the standardisation of the manufacturing and importation of the product. The coalitions, according to media reports, have called on the relevant authorities to initiate actions to make 42.5 grade of cement the standard product in Nigeria.
The stakeholders’ argument is that nearly all the cement manufacturers and importers in the country are in the habit of taking advantage of the lax regulation and lack of enforcement to vary their pigmentation in favour of the lower grade cement (32.5) which in most cases is used in building and seen to be partly responsible for the collapse of houses. They believe that the practice, which is quite prevalent, is usually overlooked by SON.

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/we-dont-produce-32-5-grade-cement-says-dangote-ceo/

Now my questions are;
1. Has the Nigerian built environment/ Market "suddenly" matured overnight for Dangote to now start producing 32,5 cement "for plastering only" knowing people will gravitate toward buying that to build since it will cost 200 Naira lower that its current 42,5?
2. Is this an attempt to backtrack knowing well that the professionals in the Nigeria built environment has never bought into the argument of SON and Dangote?
3. With the sustained campaign against 32,5 since last year and the fact that wise Nigerian has stubbornly stuck on to the 32,5 cement in many market over Dangote 42,5 cement (because of quality issue), not a sign that the "needless" battle has been lost?
4. What plan does Dangote and SON have to clamp down on people that will be buy Dangote 32,5 for concrete job knowing that the planned 32,5 cement will have lower strength compared with other 32,5 since it it going to be for plastering only?
5. How long will they take us for fools?