Katsina-born businessman, Alhaji Dahiru Barau Mangal, has completed a $1.5 billion cement plant in Moba, Kogi State.

The first bag of cement rolled out of the cement plant on Sunday, marking a major milestone of Mangal Cement Company Limited.

The plant will produce 200 trucks of cement daily and create 10,000 direct and hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs.

On 4th November 2021, Mangal Industries had signed an agreement with a Chinese firm, Sinoma, for the construction of a three million metric tons per year Cement Plant and 50 megawatts captive power plant. The project was slated to be completed early this year.

The initial cost was approximately $600 million. The completion cost of $1.5 billion was due to the devaluation of the naira, it was learnt. The investment was part of an ambitious investment programme under implementation by Mangal Industries Limited.

In a statement after the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive  of Mangal, Engr. Fahad Mangal said, “The factory will rely on best available technology for cement production and in line with highest environmental standards. It is designed to be one of the most sustainable in the sector. “Mangal is investing strategically in the West African Cement Industry to enable the Nigerian economy to bridge the huge infrastructure and housing deficit in the largest economy of the region,” .

He further noted that the investment reinforces Mangal’s commitment to Nigeria’s infrastructural and economic development and reflects its confidence in the favorable outlook of the economy in the country and the region.

Mangal is the founder of Max Air, one of Nigeria’s leading airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. His other investments includes transportation, textiles, agriculture, oil and gas and construction.

He calls the shots at AFDIN Group (Nigeria) Limited, the holding company of the vast empire that includes Max Airlines, AFDIN Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Manasawa Oil, Mangal Oil, and Manasawa Enterprises.