Inuwa Yahaya Tells New Ashaka Cement Owners: Expansion Must Benefit Gombe Communities

Inuwa Yahaya Tells New Ashaka Cement Owners: Expansion Must Benefit Gombe Communities

By Auwal AHmad Umar

  Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has asked the new owners of Ashaka Cement Company to ensure that their planned expansion of production translates into tangible benefits for host communities and does not come at the expense of the environment.

Mr Yahaya made the demand on Monday when the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HBM Nigeria PLC, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, led the company’s executive management team on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Gombe.

The delegation included the Managing Director of Ashaka Cement Limited, Ibrahim Aminu.

The governor said the proposed expansion of the cement plant presented an opportunity for the company to deepen its contribution to Gombe’s economic development through employment, local sourcing, community investment and stronger corporate social responsibility programmes.

“While profit maximisation remains a legitimate objective of businesses operating in a liberal economy, companies must equally recognise and fulfil their responsibilities to the communities and environment in which they operate,” Mr Yahaya said.

He urged HBM Nigeria PLC to sustain the goodwill enjoyed by Ashaka Cement in Northern Nigeria and use its strategic position to strengthen the company’s contribution to the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Mr Yahaya specifically raised concerns over the impact of heavy trucks associated with Ashaka Cement’s operations on roads around the plant.

He said some roads constructed by the state government had suffered damage as a result of heavy-duty haulage activities and urged the company to explore ways of supporting their improvement.

The governor also assured the new owners of the state government’s continued cooperation, saying Gombe would provide an enabling environment for responsible and sustainable industrial development.

Earlier, Mr Alade-Akinyemi disclosed that HBM Nigeria PLC plans to increase Ashaka Cement’s production capacity to two million metric tonnes per annum.

He said the expansion would create additional jobs while generating more business opportunities for transporters, suppliers and other operators within the company’s value chain.

According to him, the ownership transition followed the integration of Lafarge into Huaxin Building Materials Group, a global manufacturer of cement and building materials.

He assured the governor that the change in ownership would not alter the company’s relationship with Gombe State.

“Our commitment to the government and people of Gombe State remains steadfast and ironclad,” Mr Alade-Akinyemi said.

He added that the company would prioritise local content, strategic partnerships, community development and corporate social responsibility under the new ownership.

Mr Yahaya also urged Ashaka Cement to position itself to play a major role in the construction of the Gombe-Biu Super Highway.

The governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for awarding the contract for the project, describing the highway as an important infrastructure intervention that would benefit Gombe and neighbouring states.

He said the expected use of concrete pavement on the highway presented an opportunity for Ashaka Cement to supply some of the materials required for the project.

“Ashaka Cement should position itself to supply the cement required for the construction of the super highway, particularly as the project is expected to utilise concrete pavement,” the governor said.

The governor further said the road project would improve connectivity, stimulate commerce and strengthen the operating environment for businesses and industries across the region.

Mr Alade-Akinyemi, in turn, commended the governor for what he described as purposeful leadership and efforts to promote infrastructure, economic and industrial development in Gombe.

He pledged that HBM Nigeria PLC would strengthen its partnership with the state government and increase its contribution to the state’s economy and the wellbeing of its host communities.