Nigeria Benue Cement FY net profit jumps 230 pct

LAGOS, June 12 (Reuters) - Nigeria's Benue Cement Company (BCEM.LG), controlled by local private conglomerate Dangote Group, recorded a 230 percent rise in net profit in its year to Dec. 31, 2008, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said on Friday.

The cement maker's net profit climbed to 4.14 billion naira ($28.23 million) from 1.25 billion naira in 2007, according to its financials released on the floor of the NSE.

The company's gross earnings soared 200 percent to 16.45 billion naira from 5.47 billion naira a year earlier. ($1 = 146.75 naira) (Reporting by Tume Ahemba; Editing by Randy Fabi and Hans Peters)