Africa Cement producer, Lafarge Africa PLC has officially rebranded as HBM Nigeria PLC following shareholder approval on Tuesday, marking the end of the iconic “Lafarge” name in the Nigerian market.
The change to HBM Nigeria, short for Huaxin Building Materials, aligns the subsidiary with its new owner, China’s Huaxin Cement Co. Ltd, following its massive $1 billion takeover.
The transition follows the 2025 exit of Swiss giant Holcim Group. The rebranding efforts come as the company seeks to distance itself from a global scandal involving former leadership.
Last month, a French court sentenced former global CEO Bruno Lafont to six years in prison for financing terrorism. The court discovered €5.6 million were paid to armed groups (ISIS) between 2013 and 2014 to keep Lafarge Syrian plants running.
The court also fined the firm $1.2 million. While the Nigerian subsidiary was not directly involved in the Syrian activities, the brand damage prompted a swift corporate identity shift.
Despite the legal turmoil in Europe, the Nigerian operations remain highly profitable. The company reported a record-breaking revenue of N1.1 trillion for the 2025 financial year.
Net profits surged by 173% to N273 billion, demonstrating that local demand for construction materials remains insulated from the parent company’s legal battles and executive sentencing.
The new entity, HBM Nigeria, will continue trading on the Nigerian Exchange. Management stated the “clean slate” allows the company to focus on aggressive expansion across West Africa.
