Recently, a young lady from Athens, Greece, Virginia Komar, a widely traveled business executive, who was visiting Nigeria and Africa for the first time told this reporter how shocked she was that what she considered the real Nigerian story was never really told. She was seeking a good reason why this was so from me because she thought that as a journalist, I should be in the best position to resolve her puzzle.

"Nigeria's biggest story is its people, their entrepreneurial spirit and not the political and economic upheavals I read daily in your newspapers," she said with serious concern.

For Virginia, the average Nigerian who daily moves against all odds in pursuit of chosen trade, the robust culture, the happiness despite the suffering as well as the amazing family, religious and social support system is the Nigerian story and not the shameless exploits of corrupt politicians or mindless bloodletting by terror groups.

The Dangote achievement in the African and global cement market against all the odds, probably falls under the category of tales, which Virginia believes underscores the essence of Nigerians and deserve to be heralded.

After a brutal battle against various cabals in the cement industry to make the country self-sufficient in the production and supply of the essential commodity was fought and won about three years ago, a fresh challenge emerged and that is the regulation of cement quality.

The country had been plagued by repeated building collapses and construction failures for years and among other materials, the quality of cement used in construction activities came under severe scrutiny.

Highest Quality Cement

To contribute to the arrest of the problem, allegedly caused by the preponderance of lower grade (32.5) of cement in the market, Dangote Cement announced the completion of the calibration of its factories across the country to produce 52.5 grade of the product. With this, the company becomes the first cement company in Africa to achieve the feat.

For about two months, major concerns had been raised by various interest groups, over the standardisation of the essential product. Stakeholders had warned that the prevalence of 32.5 cement grade in the market was a major cause of building collapse in the country, threatening to stage protests against cement manufacturers who produce the lower grade of the product.

In response to the stakeholders' threat, Dangote Cement plc had announced that it produces only 42.5 grade of cement from its plants, while other cement makers tried to explain that the lower 32.5 grade did not pose the dangers identified by stakeholders.

However, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement plc,  Devakumar Edwin, told journalists in Lagos that they had further demonstrated their commitment to delivering high quality and safe product to Nigerians by raising the quality bar beyond the high grade of 42.5 cement to a much higher grade of 52.5.

He said the company had commenced the production of the cement grade from all of its three plants in Ibese, Ogun State, Gboko, Benue State and Obajana in Kogi State.

Edwin said the cement giant had scored another first as the 52.5 grade of cement was being produced in Africa for the first time, thus attesting to the resolve of the company to be a leading international producer of the essential product.

Basking in the euphoria of the new achievement, Edwin disclosed that the new cement grade, which had been certified by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), conforms to the requirements of NIS 444-2003 and other relevant standards, would sell for the same amount as the lower grade 42.5 type.

The GMD stated that it costs more to produce the 52.5 grade but that Dangote Cement decided to sell at the same price in the interest of its customers and so as to make it affordable.

He explained that the new cement could be used for all construction purposes but that it was the best for any civil construction having bearing column.

Edwin stated that Dangote Cement was also the first to produce the 42.5 grade, while other manufacturers were churning out 32.5 grade, pointing out that the desire to constantly research into how to improve the quality of its products necessitated the new cement grade.

He  reasoned that with the quality of the higher grade of cement, the incidence of building collapse would be better controlled. 

In his contribution, Mr. Joe Makoju, the Honorary Adviser to the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, described the introduction of the new cement as ground breaking, saying Nigeria was now one of the best quality producers of cement in the world.

“No matter the sophistication of the structure, this is the best grade for any civil construction. Dangote did not create the standard. The standard has been there, we have only blazed the trail by starting its production. It is good for lead bearing columns,” Makoju explained.

Will 52.5 Cement Make a Difference

Some stakeholders have dismissed this achievement, saying it does not mean that the Dangote cement would automatically build strong structures. They argue that cement is just a tiny little part of the many variables that must be effectively and expertly combined to build solid structures.

The dissenting stakeholders say simply because you use the Dangote 52.5 grade of cement for the construction of a building or bridge does not mean that it is free from the threat of failure and collapse. For them, putting up solid structures go beyond the use of high quality cement.

"There must also be good quality iron rods, granites and human capital otherwise no matter the quality of cement used, the structure can still fail," a cement expert from UNICEM said.

But Vice president of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr Dele Oye, notes that no matter how insignificant the contribution of cement is to the strength and integrity of a structure, it's quality must still be taken very seriously.

"This is more so when you consider the fact that cement is one of the most common substances used in building and constriction and its quality must therefore be very carefully considered," he said.

However, houses are built using blocks, which contain cement. Columns make up an integral part of construction of tall building and it is also made up of a lot of cement. So, if the quality of cement in circulation in the country is high, then one can be sure that a significant portion of the fears of failing structures would have been averted.

To this end, Dangote deserves a lot of commendation for upping the ante with respect to the cement quality in Africa, especially because even though he has raised the quality of cement produced at his factories, from 42.5 to 52,5, the products is still sold for the same price that makers of lower quality 32.5 cement sell their product.