Pecohub The Ebonyi State Government has debunked rumours by some host communities that it plans to use limestone deposits belonging to the foremost cement factory in South East Nigeria, now moribund Nigercem Plc to power a proposed new state-owned cement plant.
Speaking to journalists in Abakaliki the state capital during the weekend, the Chairman Nigercem reviving committee Ben Okah described the allegations contained in a recent letter written to the Governor by host communities as “misinformed” and lacking factual basis.
He was reacting to a letter written by lawyers to the four host communities wherein they accused the state government of planning to use limestone found within the communities to power a proposed new cement plant elsewhere.
Okah regretted that government efforts to revive the moribund cement factory was yet to bear fruit and assured that , “So, whether Nigercem is working or not, the state wants to build its own cement factory and I can assure you that nobody is going to infringe on Nigercem deposits to build another cement factory elsewhere.
“Nigercem today is like a forest.Assets have been stripped to the bare. Cables have been dug up, equipment removed, and the place is now inhabited by rats and snakes. Some former staff have not been paid for over 20 years—no compensation, no pension, nothing”, he lamented.
Okah said the prolonged inactivity had left the host communities, the state government and even investors without any benefit from Nigercem, despite the huge economic potential of the limestone deposits in the area.
He described the situation as “hopeless” and stressed that the state government remains willing to support Ibeto Group to revive the company.
