Landlord communities hosting the Nigerian Cement Company (Nigercem Plc) in Ebonyi State have raised fresh alarm over what they describe as emerging threats to their land, mineral resources and existing legal rights, urging Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene urgently to prevent a looming crisis.
In a strongly worded petition dated January 7, 2026, and signed by Dr. Sulaiman Usman, SAN, of Gamzaki Law Chambers, the communities accused unnamed political actors of attempting to undermine existing court judgments and consents relating to Nigercem Plc under the guise of establishing a new state-owned cement plant.
The letter, addressed to the governor at the Ebonyi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, warned that recent developments could “gravely prejudice” the host communities and jeopardise the lawful future of Nigercem Plc.
“We write on the firm instructions of the landlord communities of the Nigercem host areas to bring to Your Excellency’s attention serious developments that threaten their proprietary rights, communal interests, and the lawful future of Nigercem Plc,” the lawyers stated.
The communities recalled that Ibeto Group lawfully acquired majority shareholding in Nigercem Plc in 2010, but alleged that the Ebonyi State Government under former Governor Martin Elechi “wrongfully revoked” the mining lease granted to the company.
According to the petition, the host communities resisted the revocation and stood by Ibeto Group, leading to prolonged litigation that ended in 2013 with judgments in favour of Ibeto Group and the communities.
“The unlawful revocation was strongly resisted by our Clients, the landlord communities, who challenged the action in court and secured judgment in their favour,” the letter said.
The communities said their support for Ibeto Group was driven by fears that plans at the time to site a new cement factory outside their area would reduce them to mere suppliers of limestone without enjoying the economic and social benefits of hosting a functional cement plant.
While acknowledging Governor Nwifuru’s campaign promise to work with Ibeto Group to revive Nigercem Plc, the communities expressed disappointment that a 15-man committee set up in August 2025 to engage the investor had yet to make its findings public.
Their fears intensified, they said, during the 2026 budget presentation, when the governor announced plans to borrow ₦150 billion to build a new state-owned cement plant.
“Our Clients were alarmed to learn of plans to borrow ₦150 billion for the construction of a new cement plant, despite the existence of Nigercem Plc,” the petition noted.
The letter further alleged that on December 31, 2025, some political office holders from the landlord clan were “invited and prevailed upon” to sign a fresh consent letter purportedly revoking earlier consents granted to Ibeto Group.
“This development is deeply unsettling,” the lawyers said, stressing that the preferred site for the proposed plant “does not possess limestone deposits in commercial quantity” and would depend entirely on limestone from Nigercem host communities.
The communities also disowned what they described as an “unauthorised, self-appointed and unrecognised committee” allegedly acting in their name.
“Some individuals, driven by personal political ambition, have constituted themselves into an unauthorised committee with no mandate to speak or act on behalf of the landlord communities,” the letter stated. “Our Clients categorically reject the authority, legitimacy and actions of this group.”
They warned that they would resist any attempt to convert Nigercem Plc into “a mere limestone excavation zone” or to “circumvent existing legal rights, court judgments and valid consents through political manipulation.”
In their appeal, the communities urged Governor Nwifuru to convene an inclusive town hall meeting involving traditional rulers, professionals, youth and women groups, religious leaders and other stakeholders to openly discuss the future of Nigercem Plc.
They also asked the governor to halt any actions that could alter ownership, control or mineral rights related to Nigercem Plc pending broad consultations.
“Our Clients are not opposed to development, nor are they averse to genuine efforts to revive Nigercem Plc,” the lawyers said. “What they cannot accept is any arrangement that undermines their rights or sacrifices their future for expedient political objectives.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Government had not issued an official response to the petition.
However, the communities said they remain open to dialogue, expressing confidence in the governor’s “sense of justice and statesmanship.”
“Our Clients would warmly welcome a sincere, lawful and inclusive plan to revive Nigercem Plc for the benefit of Ebonyi State and its people,” the letter concluded.
The unfolding dispute raises fresh questions about resource control, investor confidence and community rights in Nigeria’s extractive and industrial sectors, with observers warning that failure to address the grievances transparently could fuel renewed legal and social tensions in the state.
