CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The history of cement production in Nigeria can be traced back to
1957. From the onset, about three cement plants were commissioned by
the Northern, Eastern and Mid-Western regional governments. Later,
other companies such as Ashaka Cement, Benue Cement Company (BCC), West
African Portland Cement Company (WAPCO) and Cement Company of Northern
Nigeria (CCNN) and a host of others were established. But today, there
are many cement manufacturing companies/plants in Nigeria with plants
located across country. Some of the notable companies include: West
African Portland Cement Company Plc (WAPCO); Ashaka Cement Company
Plc; Benue Cement Company Plc (BCC); Cement Company of Northern
Nigeria Plc (CCNN); Dangote Industries plc; Nigerian Cement Company
Limited; Edo Cement Company Limited; and a host of others. One
major characteristic of the cement industry in Nigeria is the problem of
demand vs. supply inequality and lack of quality which specifically
has led to the collapse of several buildings resulting to loss of lives
and properties (Adetokun 2010). Since inception, available supply has
not been able to meet the ever growing demand for cement. Even in the
1980s, during the economic recession which witnessed a decline in the
demand for cement, these supply gaps were still very much evident. The
modest but continuous growth in the Nigerian economy is a prospect for
cement plants to increase local production. The rise in the demand of
cement has led to a significance decrease in the quality of cement
produced today in other to meet up with this growing demand. Recent
collapse of buildings in Nigeria maybe as a result of the incompetency
of the contractors but can be majorly as a result of the quality of
cement and other building materials used in the construction of these
buildings. The rate of collapse of buildings in Nigeria has
geometrically increased overtime leading to the loss of lives and
valuables.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The alarming rate of collapse of buildings and the lack of
durable roads and bridges in Nigeria has been a major concern which has
led us to basically discover the real cause behind this malady. Due to
the ever increasing demand for cement in Nigeria, a lot has been said
about the quality of cement in Nigeria, this is another major concern
for this survey. Cement production companies need to be adequately
monitored and advised on when to service their plants and the right
quality level of cement production to forestall further disheartening
events in Nigeria.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
- To ascertain the quality of cement produced in dangote cement plc.
- To know if the recent collapse of buildings is as a result of
the quality of cement and other building materials used or as a result
of the incompetency of contractors.
- To know if recent improvement can be made on the already existing cement quality.
- To know if the cement plant is in good working condition or not.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
A major significance of this study is to ascertain the causes of
collapse of buildings and by extension proffer solutions to minimize
its further occurrence which in turn protects the generality of
Nigerians.
Another major significance of this survey is to determine the
quality of cement produced by checking the working ability of cement
plants with a view to advising cement production companies on the right
time to service their plants to maintain a satisfactory quality level
of cement produced.
SCOPE/LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of this survey is centered on the quality control analysis of cements in the ibese cement plant Lagos state.
A major limitation to this work is the inability in gaining access
to the cement production plant at the ibese plant in Lagos state.
Another limitation is getting the answers of respondents in Lagos
and workers in ibese cement plant Lagos on the causes of collapse of
buildings in Nigeria.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
- Cement: a grey powder made by burning clay and lime that sets hard when it is mixed with water.
- Power Plant: an engine or other apparatus which provides power for a machine, building, etc.
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