Nigeria’s top cement producer has become the first cement producer in Africa to calibrate all of its factories to produce 52.5 grade cement.

Over the past month, various groups have raised concern over the standardisation of cement in the country. They warned that the prevalence of 32.5 grade cement in the market was a major cause of building collapse and threatened to protests against cement manufacturers who produce lower grade products, Nigerian newspaper This Day reported.

Cement Producer Dangote, which produced 42.5 grade cement, decided to demonstrate its commitment to delivering high quality and safe products by raising the bar from 42.5 grade cement to a much higher grade of 52.5. Speaking in Lagos, Dangote Cement Group Managing Director Devakumar Edwin said the company had begun production of the high grade cement at all of its three plants in Ibese, Gboko and Obajana.Dangote’s cement is now compliant with the Standard Organization of Nigeria’s (SON) NIS 444-1:2003 and other relevant standards.

“No matter the sophistication of the structure, this is the best grade for any civil construction. Dangote did not create the standard. The standard has been there, we have only blazed the trail by starting its production,” said Joe Makoju, the Honorary Adviser to the President of Dangote Group.