BUA Cement Begins POP Plasterboard Production at Port Harcourt Factory

BUA Cement has taken another major step in expanding Nigeria’s local building materials industry with the commencement of POP gypsum plasterboard production at its Port Harcourt facility. The development comes less than a year after operations began at the 2,400-tonnes-per-day plant, underscoring the company’s rapid execution and growing ambitions.

Announcing the milestone in a Facebook post on Thursday, BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, said the new production line builds on the company’s earlier entry into POP manufacturing. He described the move as part of BUA Cement’s broader commitment to strengthening local manufacturing and reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported building materials.

The Port Harcourt facility, operating under the name BUA Gypsum Plaster Limited, is widely regarded as the largest POP manufacturing plant in the country. It produces white, fire-resistant gypsum plasterboards using gypsum, a key raw material already central to cement and concrete production. These plasterboards are commonly used for interior finishes and decorative mouldings in modern construction.

BUA Cement’s expansion into POP production is aimed at addressing a long-standing supply gap in the domestic market, where imports have historically dominated. Beyond Nigeria, the company is also positioning the plant to serve other West African markets, signaling its intention to grow regional market share and become a major supplier across the sub-region.

Speaking late last year, Rabiu noted that the Port Harcourt operation is primarily focused on supporting Nigeria’s housing and construction sectors. This focus comes at a time when the country is grappling with a severe housing shortage. Estimates from the International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology put Nigeria’s housing deficit at about 22 million units, a gap that continues to drive strong demand for cement and related building materials.

The surge in construction activity has been particularly beneficial for Nigeria’s major cement producers. BUA Cement, Dangote Cement and Lafarge Africa recorded average EBITDA margins of over 45 per cent in the six months to June 2025, significantly outperforming peers in Europe and other parts of Africa.

With the launch of POP plasterboard production in Port Harcourt, BUA Cement is deepening its footprint in the building materials value chain while reinforcing its role in meeting Nigeria’s growing infrastructure and housing needs through locally made products.