Prompted by the robust corporate social responsibility and corporate governance which have become hallmarks of Lafarge Africa’s operations wherever its plants are located in the World under LafargeHolcim, the building materials and construction solutions firm has pledged to embark on massive construction of low-cost Housing for Ogun state residents, especially those residing within its host communities.
The soon-to-be-taken off low-cost housing scheme of Lafarge Africa will be second in the series of affordable housing scheme in the last seven years, having partnered one of the microfinance banks in Nigeria-LAPO Microfinance Bank on the nationwide N1.3 billion affordable housing scheme started in 2013 with a view to reducing the then 18 million housing deficits in the country.
Speaking specifically on Lafarge Africa’s mission to construct low-cost housing units for its host communities in Ogun state, Khaleed El-Dokani, the new Country Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa PLC, declared that the building materials and construction firm is ready to offer people housing units in the areas of its operations as part of effort to reduce housing deficits in Ogun State and Nigeria generally.
El-Dokani, who led Lafarge Africa’s team on courtesy visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state on Thursday, said his company operates two factories located in Ewekoro and Sagamu in the Ogun Central and East Senatorial Districts respectively, with combined assets worth of $1.3 billion, employing more than 500 people in both cement plants.
He reiterated that his company is looking at ways of providing affordable houses to the people in its areas of operation, just it the firm had invested in a power plant at Ewekoro, Ogun Central Senatorial District capable of producing 90 Megawatts out of which 40 Megawatts would be available for the national grid.
Responding, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who acknowledged that the company has the first cement factory in the state, said that Lafarge Africa PLC had contributed to the state’s economy in the area of employment and corporate social responsibility as well as tax remittance to both Federal and State Governments, but asked Lafarge Africa and others to do more by helping government to maintain roads where their trucks ply.
While lamenting the deplorable condition of some roads due to the use of heavy duty trucks owned and controlled by the major companies, including Lafarge Africa, the governor pleaded with companies to look at ways of collaborating with the State government in maintaining those roads.
“The failure of some of these roads, like the Abeokuta-Ifo-Lagos road, is due to heavy duty trucks. This road was not built to accommodate such trucks. Please look at the way you can collaborate with government in maintaining this road which is probably the second busiest in the country to alleviate the suffering of the people”, the governor pleaded.
Goverrnor Abiodun, who also explained steps taken to strengthen the private sector participation in the development of the State, said various agencies like the Investment and Facilitation Promotion, Business Environment Council and Public Private Partnership Office, have been put in place to serve as one Stop-Shop and ensure that agreements are in line with the global best practices.
RAZAQ AYINLA
