A bold initiative by the Ebonyi State Government to establish a new cement manufacturing facility is facing significant resistance. The plan is being challenged by the local communities that host the dormant Nigerian Cement Company (Nigercem), who have raised serious concerns about potential violations of their land rights.
Communities Issue Legal Warning to State Government
In a formal letter dated January 7, 2026, and addressed to Governor Francis Nwifuru, the communities have called for an immediate halt to all actions. They argue that the state's move could unlawfully alter the ownership of mineral rights in their area. The letter, sent through their legal representatives, Gamzaki Law Chambers, demands comprehensive stakeholder consultations before any further steps are taken.
The communities have accused certain political figures of trying to subvert established legal agreements and court rulings concerning Nigercem. They trace the core of the dispute back to 2010, when the Ibeto Group legally acquired a majority stake in Nigercem Plc, becoming its core investor. They highlighted that a subsequent attempt by a past Ebonyi State administration to revoke Ibeto's mining lease was overturned by the courts. Judgments delivered between 2010 and 2013 affirmed the rights of both Ibeto Group and the host communities.
Broken Promises and Rising Tensions
According to the aggrieved communities, the current state administration, during its election campaign, had promised to work with the Ibeto Group to resuscitate the old Nigercem plant. They acknowledged that a 15-man committee was set up in August 2025 to engage stakeholders but expressed disappointment that no findings or recommendations from this committee have been made public.
Tensions escalated considerably after Governor Nwifuru announced during the 2026 budget presentation a plan to borrow N150 billion for the construction of a new, state-owned cement plant. The communities also sounded an alarm over a meeting held on December 31, 2025. They claim that at this gathering, certain individuals issued a fresh "consent letter" aimed at revoking the earlier agreements granted to the Ibeto Group.
Questions Over Viability and Representation
The landlord communities have strongly questioned the viability of the state's proposed project. They insist that the chosen site for the new plant lacks commercially viable limestone deposits. They argue that the project would, therefore, be entirely dependent on limestone resources located within the territories of the existing Nigercem host communities.
Furthermore, the communities have firmly rejected the authority of what they label an "unauthorised and self-appointed committee" that claims to represent their interests. They maintain that only proper, lawful consultation with the genuine stakeholders can resolve the impasse and prevent a protracted legal and communal conflict over the valuable mineral resources in Ebonyi State.
