Lafarge Nigeria has changed its name to HBM Nigeria plc, signalling a new era for a company that has undergone several strategic changes over the last few years following its acquisition by Chinese manufacturing company, Huaxin Cement.
HBM, stands for Huaxin Building Materials, signalling the formal transition from the Lafarge-Holcim era to a new chapter under Chinese major ownership. The move comes after Swiss building materials group Holcim completed the sale of its approximately 84% stake in Lafarge Africa to Huaxin Cement in a deal valued at about $1 billion.
The name change comes as Huaxin seeks to strengthen its presence in Africa’s rapidly expanding construction materials market. Industry observers view the transition as part of a broader trend of increasing Chinese investment in Africa’s industrial and infrastructure sectors.
Lafarge Nigeria Growth
HBM Nigeria inherits a business with a history spanning more than six decades. Incorporated in 1959 and commencing operations in 1961, the company has undergone several transformations over the years, including its evolution from West Africa Portland Cement Company (WAPCO) to Lafarge WAPCO Nigeria Plc, and later Lafarge Africa Plc following a series of mergers and acquisitions.
The rebranding comes on the back of strong financial performance in 2025 where the company crossed the ₦1 trillion revenue mark for the first time, while net profit nearly tripled to approximately ₦273 billion. Shareholders also approved a final dividend of ₦6 per share for the 2025 financial year, underscoring the company’s strong earnings momentum ahead of the transition.
With major cement plants in Ogun, Cross River and Gombe states, and ongoing capacity expansion projects, HBM Nigeria is expected to play a key role in supporting Nigeria’s infrastructure and housing development needs.
