The board of Lafarge Africa Plc has approved the merger of the company with both United Cement of Nigeria (UniCem) and Atlas Cement Company Limited, a bag handling and cement distribution company.

“The board authorised the firm to enter into any agreement and do all that is necessary to negotiate and implement the merger among UniCem and Atlas,” said Mrs Edith Onwuchkwa, company secretary of Lafarge Africa.

“Lafarge will seek the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and all other relevant regulatory bodies in furtherance of the implementation of the merger.”

Business Post reported on Monday that the cement maker generated revenue of N269.63 billion in the second quarter of 2025, which is 70 per cent higher than the N157.80 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2024.

This good fortune was made possible by an increase in the demand for the products of the leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company and producer of a range of cement brands.

According to the chief executive of the cement maker, Mr Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, Lafarge Africa has continued to delight consumers with innovative product offerings, strategic operation and distribution efficiency.

The firm said in the period under review, it improved its operating profit by 153 per cent to N120.61 billion from N47.70 billion in the second quarter of 2024 as a result of topline growth and operational efficiency of the company.

Also, ...-tax profit rose by 248 per cent to N84.03 billion from N24.16 billion in the same period of last year, driven by strong operational performance, relative stability of the Naira with no significant foreign exchange (FX) losses.

“Following our impressive Q1 results, Q2 performance showcases the strength of our team, market positioning, operational efficiency, cost management, and dedication to value creation.

“We achieved excellent financial results in Q2, with Net Sales growth of 70 per cent, Operating Profit up 153 per cent, and Profit After Tax growth of 248 per cent.

“This strong performance closes H1 with a sales and operating profit growth of 75 per cent and 144 per cent, respectively.

“This performance is driven by our innovative product offerings and strategic operational Initiatives,” Mr Alade-Akinyemi said.