The President of Dangote Group of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote said at the week-end that his organisation would construct a gas pipeline in Oyo State to ease the problem of electricity supply in the state.
He disclosed this shortly after paying a condolence visit to the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi over the death of his mother, Alhaja Dhikrat Abeje Ajimobi, at the Government House, Ibadan.
This is as the price of cement dropped significantly? in Calabar, the Cross River capital having risen so much? earlier this year, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A market survey by NAN revealed that a bag of the commodity, which was sold at N2,200 between January and May 2012, is now sold at between N1,650 and N1,750.
Dangote, who hinged his organisation’s resolve to construct the pipeline on the peaceful? atmosphere existing in the state, said that the project would enhance the establishment of a factory being planned by his conglomerate in Oyo State.
While describing the state as investor-friendly due to its large population and huge land mass, the business mogul said that the establishment of the proposed factory would further the socio-economic development of the state.
‘‘In terms of setting up an industry, this is a place we will like to come and invest because of the peaceful nature and we want to spread around; we don’t want to locate all our factories in one zone.
‘‘Land is not as expensive here (in Oyo State) as it is in Lagos; the only roadblock is the gas pipeline and it can be done and we will do it; we are going to talk to the Nigerian Gas Company and work together with the state government through Governor Ajimobi,’’ he said.
At the Building Materials Section of Watt Market in the city, a cement dealer, Mr Osita Okeke, said a bag costs N1,700, while it goes down to N1, 650 for bulk purchases.
“If someone wants to buy just about one bag and up to to five bags, we sell at N1,700 a bag.