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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
The host communities of the defunct Nigerian Cement Company (Nigercem ) Plc in Ebonyi State have expressed concern over government’s plan to establish a new cement plant.
The communities warned that the move threatens their land rights and the lawful future of Nigercem Plc.
In a letter dated January 7, 2026, addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru, the communities through their solicitors, Gamzaki Law Chambers accused certain political actors of attempting to undermine existing legal agreements and court judgments relating to Nigercem Plc.
The letter recalled that in 2010, Ibeto Group lawfully acquired majority shareholding in Nigercem Plc and became its core investor.
It noted that the subsequent revocation of Ibeto Group’s mining lease by the Ebonyi State Government under a previous administration was challenged in court, with judgments delivered between 2010 and 2013 in favour of Ibeto Group and the host communities.
According to the communities, assurances were given by the present administration during the election campaign to collaborate with Ibeto Group to revive Nigercem Plc.
They acknowledged that a 15-man committee was constituted in August 2025 to engage relevant stakeholders but lamented that no report or recommendations from the committee have been made public.
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Tension heightened following the governor’s announcement during the 2026 budget presentation of plans to borrow N150 billion to construct a new state-owned cement plant.
The communities also expressed alarm over a meeting held on December 31, 2025, where certain individuals allegedly issued a fresh “consent letter” purporting to revoke earlier agreements granted to Ibeto Group.
The landlord communities insist that the proposed location for the new cement plant lacks commercially viable limestone deposits and that the project would depend entirely on limestone found within Nigercem host communities.
They rejected the authority of what they described as an unauthorized and self-appointed committee claiming to speak on their behalf.
While reiterating that they are not opposed to development or genuine efforts to revive Nigercem Plc, the communities warned they would resist any attempt to convert Nigercem into a mere limestone excavation zone or to strip them of the benefits of industrial development through political manipulation.
They called on the governor to convene an inclusive town hall meeting, halt unauthorized representations, disclose the government’s technical and financial capacity to revive Nigercem Plc, and suspend any actions that could alter ownership or mineral rights pending broad consultation.
The communities concluded by expressing openness to constructive engagement but stressed that they would not accept any arrangement that sacrifices their rights or future for political expediency.
