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BUA Cement Plc, the publicly listed Nigerian cement company led by billionaire businessman and industrialist Abdul Samad Rabiu, is planning to almost double its production capacity as it aims to strengthen its role in West Africa’s construction sector.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, BUA met at its Dubai office with CBMI Construction Co., Ltd., a global engineering firm specializing in cement plants, power, and heavy industries. The discussions focused on increasing BUA Cement’s annual output from 11 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes, narrowing the gap with Dangote Cement, which has a 52 million-tonne capacity. The expansion is part of BUA’s effort to capture a greater share of Nigeria’s cement market.
BUA plans cement production expansion
Rabiu welcomed the CBMI team, saying, “Excited to welcome my friend Mr. Zhang Sicai, Chairman of CBMI Construction Ltd. (SINOMA China), and his team from China to our Dubai office. As we discuss the potential addition of a new 3-million-ton cement production line in Sokoto, we reflect on over 15 years of close partnership with CBMI.”
“They have been a trusted collaborator, delivering 14 million tons of cement production lines and helping us grow together,” he added. “This next expansion would bring our total annual cement production capacity to 20 million tons — another milestone in our shared journey of success.”
Investors on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) are watching closely as BUA prepares to release its 2025 financial results. The company reported a profit of N289.86 billion ($200 million) in the first nine months of 2025, up from N48.97 billion ($33.6 million) during the same period in 2024. Its full-year profit in 2024 was N73.9 billion ($50.7 million).
Rising revenue, driven by steady demand and higher cement prices, contributed to the increase. BUA’s nine-month revenue reached N858.7 billion ($590 million), compared with N583.4 billion ($400.7 million) in 2024. Rabiu remains the majority owner with a 97.66 percent stake. The company expects the planned expansion to boost performance and returns to shareholders.
Abdul Samad Rabiu guides multi-industry expansion
The capacity boost comes as part of a wider effort to strengthen BUA Group’s operations across multiple industries in Africa. Rabiu, who Forbes estimates to have a $9.4 billion fortune, continues to guide the group’s growth across manufacturing, energy and agribusiness.
Recent projects include a 22-megawatt gas-fired power plant in partnership with Green Power International Pvt. Ltd., designed to provide reliable energy for operations and reduce diesel costs. The company has also expanded its food and agribusiness footprint, further adding a 32-tonnes-per-hour rice processing line and collaborating with Türkiye’s Viteral Integrated Milling Systems to build a 40-tonnes-per-hour animal feed mill in Kano.
Among BUA’s most ambitious initiatives is a fully integrated sugar complex. The facility will process 10,000 tons of cane daily, generate 35 megawatts of electricity from bagasse and produce 20 million liters of industrial ethanol annually. The project aims to reduce Nigeria’s sugar imports while supporting local agriculture and power generation.
