Then came a challenger from Nigeria. Aliko Dangote grew from a single Nigerian plant into a continental cement powerhouse. And according to Obasanjo, Lafarge was not pleased. President Ruto speaks with Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in Lamu during Dangote Lamu refinery groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday September 30, 2026. PHOTO | PCSIntrigues in the cement manufacturing business in Africa came to the forefront during the Lamu refinery groundbreaking ceremony, with leaders laying the blame at the doorstep of former French investor Lafarge.Former Nigerian Head of State Olusegun Obasanjo said the company's investment in Africa was not done in good faith, while President William Ruto celebrated the takeover of the industry by Kenyans and East Africans in the country. Obasanjo waded into the murky cement wars that dogged the continent, placing former large-scale foreign investor Lafarge at the centre of the dispute.For decades, the French firm was a giant of African cement, with its footprint spread across the continent. In Kenya, it was the force behind Bamburi Cement, which dates back to 1951. Later, after Lafarge merged with Swiss giant Holcim in 2014, its African assets were consolidated under one roof.Then came a challenger from Nigeria. Aliko Dangote grew from a single Nigerian plant into a continental cement powerhouse. And according to Obasanjo, Lafarge was n...
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