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One of Nigeria's best-known cement brand names is about to disappear from company signboards, filings and stock market listings. The only thing standing between the old name and the new one is a shareholder vote.
Lafarge Africa Plc has notified the Nigerian Exchange that it will seek shareholder approval to change its corporate name to HBM Nigeria Plc at its 67th Annual General Meeting scheduled for April 30, 2026, in Lagos. The proposed change requires a special resolution, and if passed, it will amend Clause 1 of the company's Memorandum of Association, formally closing the chapter on the Lafarge name in Nigeria.
The rebranding follows the completion of Huaxin Cement's acquisition of an 83.81 percent controlling stake in Lafarge Africa from Swiss building materials giant Holcim in August 2025. The transaction was valued at $1 billion on a 100 percent equity basis before dividend adjustments, marking Holcim's full exit from the Nigerian market after decades of presence. Huaxin Cement, one of China's largest producers of building materials, paid approximately $774 million after accounting for dividends distributed to Holcim between January 2024 and the closing date.
The name change would be the fourth in the company's corporate history. It started as West Africa Portland Cement Company, then became Lafarge Cement WAPCO, before adopting the Lafarge Africa Plc identity in July 2014 following the merger of Lafarge and Holcim's African operations.
The April 30 AGM agenda also covers audited financial statements, dividend declarations and board restructuring. The Register of Members and Transfer Books was closed from April 6 to April 10 to update records. Dividends are expected to be paid on the same day as the meeting if approved.
Huaxin Cement has been among the most active acquirers of cement assets across Africa. Since 2020, it has expanded into Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique, using acquisitions rather than greenfield development to build scale. Its entry into Nigeria through the Lafarge Africa deal gives it control of one of the country's largest cement producers and places it in direct competition with Aliko Dangote's Dangote Cement and Abdul Samad Rabiu's BUA Cement.
The AGM vote on April 30 will determine whether the transition to HBM Nigeria Plc goes ahead. If shareholders approve, Nigeria's third-largest cement company will trade and operate under an entirely new identity by the close of business that day.
