Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has urged the management of HBM Nigeria PLC, the new owners of Ashaka Cement Company, to match the company’s planned expansion in production with a renewed commitment to the welfare of its host communities and the protection of the environment.
A statement signed by the DG Press Affairs Gombe state government house Ismaila Uba Misilli said the Governor made the call when he received the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HBM Nigeria PLC, Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, who led the Company’s Executive Management team, including the MD of Ashaka Cement Ltd, Ibrahim Aminu on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Gombe.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said the planned expansion of Ashaka Cement’s production capacity presents an opportunity for the company to deepen its contribution to the economic development of Gombe State, particularly through employment generation, local content development, community development and enhanced corporate social responsibility programmes.
He assured the company of the state government’s readiness to continue working in synergy with HBM Nigeria PLC towards creating an enabling environment for sustainable industrial growth.
The Governor noted that Ashaka Cement enjoys significant goodwill across Northern Nigeria, stressing that the company should leverage its strategic position to remain one of the leading producers of cement and other building materials in the country.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya emphasised that 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.
He specifically urged HBM Nigeria PLC to explore ways of improving the road infrastructure leading to Ashaka Cement, noting that some adjoining roads constructed by the state government have suffered damage as a result of the heavy trucks and haulage activities associated with the company.
The Governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for awarding the contract for the construction of the Gombe-Biu Super Highway, describing the project as a major intervention that would benefit not only the people of Gombe State but businesses and industries across the region.
He challenged Ashaka Cement to position itself to supply the cement required for the construction of the super highway, particularly as the project is expected to utilise concrete pavement.
Earlier, the GMD/CEO of HBM Nigeria PLC, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, explained that the change from Lafarge Africa PLC to HBM Nigeria PLC followed the integration of Lafarge into the Huaxin Building Materials Group, a globally recognised manufacturer of cement and building materials.
He assured the Governor that, despite the change in ownership, the company’s commitment to the government and people of Gombe State remains steadfast and ironclad.
Akinyemi said the new management would prioritise local content, strategic partnerships, community development and corporate social responsibility, while working to strengthen the company’s contribution to the state’s economy.
He disclosed that plans were underway to expand Ashaka Cement’s production capacity to two million metric tonnes per annum, a development he said would create additional employment opportunities and stimulate economic activities for transporters, suppliers and other businesses within the company’s value chain.
The HBM GMD/CEO also paid tribute to Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his purposeful leadership and for creating an enabling environment for infrastructural, economic and industrial development in Gombe State.
He expressed the company’s readiness to strengthen its partnership with the state government and contribute even more significantly to the development of Gombe State and the wellbeing of its people.
