Prompted by the mission to rebuild the Boko Haram-ravaged North east’s economy, the French multinational cement firm, Lafarge Africa Plc has launched a partnership with the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) on the rehabilitation and re-building of the region’s economy, pledging to invest N100 billion for the expansion of its business in the region.
Guillaume Roux, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lafarge Africa plc, who declared the firm’s intention to massively invest in the region’s economy during Lafarge Africa’s courtesy visit to the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), lamented that the cement company lost N2.5 billion to the Boko Haram insurgency that ravaged the North Eastern part of the country between November 2014 and April 2015.
He said the company had decided to partner with the Federal Government in rebuilding the ravaged North Eastern region as part of the company’s committment to rebuilding the region, saying: “We have had some difficulties in the last few months and we estimate we have lost about 2.5 billion naira during that period.
While explaining that Ashaka Cement Plc, a subsidiary of Lafarge Africa Plc has been in the North East for over 40 years and has been a major player in the economic development of the region, he affirmed: “We are committed to development of the region. We have a programme of N100 billion to invest in. This is why this partnership is very key.”
He said as private investors, the company can bring quick solution to help the north east rebuild quickly. He said the company will be partnering with the government in six key areas of entrepreneurship, health, skills acquisition, coal to power solution, education and technology
