metro

Dangote announces $400m Ethiopia cement plant expansion

Published

10 months ago

February 16, 2025

Dangote announces $400m Ethiopia cement plant expansion

Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has announced a $400 million plan to push a second production line at the Mugher cement plant in Ethiopia, a move expected to double the facility’s annual output to 5 million tons.

The Mugher plant, which began operations in 2015 with an initial capacity of 2.5 million tons per year, has faced major challenges.

Regional unrest led to repeated attacks on company property. In 2018, the country manager and two employees were killed in an attack.

Despite these challenges, Dangote remains committed to Ethiopia, seeing it as a crucial market in his growing African cement empire.

Despite these setbacks, Dangote Cement, which operates in 10 African countries, remains committed to expanding its footprint in Ethiopia.

The Mugher plant is a key part of the company’s strategy to increase its annual cement production capacity across the continent to 55 million tons.

READ ALSO:

In 2015, the Dangote Group invested $19 million to add a bagging plant at the Mugher facility, enabling it to produce 120 million bags of cement annually.

The latest expansion will include a new greenfield grinding unit near Addis Ababa, boosting the plant’s capacity to 5 million tons per year.

Dangote, Chairman and CEO of the Dangote Group, described Ethiopia as his “best investment destination,” citing the country’s improving investment climate. He also emphasized the role of African business leaders in driving the continent’s progress.

“Africa will be developed by Africans, “As our political leaders work to strengthen the African Union, we as business leaders must complement their efforts by deepening commercial linkages across the continent.”

Dr. Brook Taye, CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holdings, lauded the investment, highlighting Ethiopia’s focus on industrialization and private-sector growth.

“Ethiopia is undergoing a significant economic transformation that prioritizes industrialization, investment, and job creation. This investment is a strong signal of confidence in Ethiopia’s business environment and will significantly contribute to our infrastructure and economic growth,” he said.

Dangote announces $400m Ethiopia cement plant expansion

metro

Nigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen

Published

56 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerian army special forces

Nigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen

Troops of the 8 Division Nigerian Army have thwarted an attempted invasion by heavily armed terrorists in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, preventing what security sources described as a planned mass kidnapping attack.

According to military insiders, the operation unfolded in the early hours of Monday, 8 December 2025, when Special Forces stormed a major bandits’ hideout around Kurawa village. A fierce gun battle ensued, leading to the neutralisation of eleven terrorists, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds, as indicated by heavy blood trails at the scene.

READ ALSO:

Sources revealed that the attackers were preparing to invade Tara village—also in Sabon Birni LGA—before troops launched the pre-emptive strike that halted the planned assault.

During the raid, soldiers recovered eight AK-47 rifles, five magazines, and 26 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, further degrading the firepower of the non-state armed group.

The military described the success as part of ongoing, intensified operations aimed at denying terrorists and bandit groups freedom of movement and operational space in the North-West.

Nigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen

metro

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Published

58 minutes ago

December 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Nnamdi Kanu

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Leading Igbo diaspora organisations have sharply criticised the United Kingdom for maintaining what they describe as “disturbing silence” over the conviction and life imprisonment of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu, a British citizen and head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted on terrorism-related charges weeks ago and subsequently transferred to Sokoto prison, drawing outrage from diaspora groups who insist the UK has abandoned one of its nationals.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), the Ambassadors for Self-Determination (ASD) and the Rising Sun Foundation (RSF) accused the British government of failing in its human rights obligations.

“The UK government has failed to uphold its duty to protect one of its own citizens,” AVID president Dr. Sylvester Onyia said. “A British passport holder was abducted from Kenya without legal extradition, subjected to a sham trial under a repealed law, yet London remains silent. This silence undermines the UK’s credibility as a human rights champion.”

ASD president Evans Nwankwo described Britain’s inaction as hypocritical, noting that London is vocal on abuses in Russia, Myanmar, Hong Kong and other regions. “When it is a British citizen facing unlawful detention and a life sentence, the government’s indifference becomes deafening. Silence here reads as complicity,” he stated.

READ ALSO:

RSF director Maxwell Dede linked the UK’s posture to historic grievances, arguing that the silence reinforces perceptions of ethnic bias rooted in Britain’s role during the 1967–1970 Biafran War. “By ignoring Kanu’s case, the UK risks signalling that geopolitical interests outweigh justice for the Igbo people,” he said.

The diaspora groups demanded immediate UK intervention, including:

A public statement condemning Kanu’s alleged rendition from Kenya
Enforcement of the 2022 Appeal Court judgment that discharged him
Full consular access
A parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s handling of the case
Possible sanctions under the UK Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations targeting Nigerian officials allegedly involved in the rendition or torture

They emphasised that IPOB is legally registered in the UK, and Kanu’s broadcasts from London fall under British free speech protections. The organisations argued that £6.5bn UK–Nigeria trade relations cannot supersede the government’s duty to protect its citizens.

“This is no longer a purely Nigerian matter,” Onyia added. “When a British citizen is abducted, tortured, tried under a repealed law and denied the benefit of a binding judgment, it becomes an international issue. The UK must act.”

The groups vowed to intensify international advocacy, engaging the United States, the United Nations, and global media to ensure monitoring of Kanu’s health and detention conditions.

“The world is watching,” Dede said. “Human rights, due process, and the protection of citizens are non-negotiable. Silence is complicity.”

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

metro

Nigerian Air Force Clarifies C-130 Aircraft Made Safe Precautionary Landing in Burkina Faso

Published

4 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame

Nigerian Air Force Clarifies C-130 Aircraft Made Safe Precautionary Landing in Burkina Faso

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified that its C-130 military aircraft, previously reported detained in Burkina Faso over an alleged airspace violation, made a safe precautionary landing due to technical concerns.

In a statement on Tuesday, Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal when the crew detected a technical issue shortly after departing Lagos. Following international aviation safety protocols, the plane diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, as the nearest available airfield.

READ ALSO:

The NAF confirmed that all crew members and passengers are safe and were cordially received by Burkinabe authorities. Plans are already underway to resume the mission as scheduled.

“The Nigerian Air Force remains professionally committed to strict compliance with operational procedures and safety standards, and to the protection of its personnel while fulfilling its constitutional mandate,” the statement added.