CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background Of The Study

The genesis of the cement industry in Nigeria can be traced to the 1950s with the establishment of the first cement factory in Nigeria about 11956 at Nkalagu with an installed capacity of 489000 metric tons per annual. With the increasing demand for cement in the economy, there were growth of the construction industry coupled with the oil boon of the post war period which brought about improvements in the standard of living of the masses, there led to an increase in the demands for cement. To achieve Nigeria national objectives of self-reliance in the supply of industrial products and that of import substitute with this product locally, public and private sector organizations stepped up their operations geared towards increasing cement production. In view of ever-increasing demand, cement in the early phase of development in Nigeria primarily due to the growth of construction industry. A large quantity of cement was still being imported. The commissioning of about a (Nine) cement companies between 1956 and 978 was a deliberate effort by successive government to sustain the tempo of growth in the construction and building industry, as well as conserving hard earned foreign exchange expanded on massive cement Importation. It was against this background that the delta cement company limited Ughelli, was established to take advantage of the unsatisfied demand for cement. Between 1950-1962 the geological survey department of Nigeria conducted a geographical survey in the Aladja division of Delta province, they discovered two marble and limestone deposit in Ughelli area. These mineral deposits were estimated at 10.23 million tones. Detailed chemical analysis showed that the marble and limestone deposit, which extended to a depth of 606m, was suitable for the manufacturing of cement it appropriately blended with clay and literate.