Dangote: Mining And Host Communities Criticise Kogi Govt Action

By Omoh Baba

Members of the Mining and Host communities Iwa and Oyo have condemned the Kogi State Government for what they described as an extrajudicial and unlawful deployment of the vigilantes to cause chaos in the Obajana community.

The two mining community in the Obajana enclave described the action of the youth as falling short of maturity and civility. 

Reports from the communities on Thursday stated that the residents of the cement town were wearing mourning looks, bemoaning the unfolding crisis rocking their communities.

Many shops, business centres and eateries in the town remained under lock and key for fear of the unknown. 

However, discordant tunes have been trailing the sealing of the company. 

Spokesman for the Oyo Mining host community, David Oluruntoba, was said to have condemned the act, stating the company had established a cordial relationship with the local community.

He said, “They called us to join them. But I told them that the company has not offended us. We just signed a Community Development Agreement (CDA) and the company has been helping us and providing us with jobs. What has the government done for us, nothing. There is no basis to support the government.”

Also, the spokesperson of the Iwa mining community, Rotimi Kekereowo, stated that the coming on the stream of the company to their community had helped them, saying they will not support any action that will bring hardships to their community. 

He said the community had just signed a Community Development Agreement (CDA) with the company besides providing them with jobs. 

The Olu of Akpata in the mining community, Fredrick Balogun, said royal fathers “will continue to seek the path of reconciliation and amicable resolution of any misunderstanding. We don’t have issues with the company.”   

Meanwhile The president, MAN, Engr. Mansur Ahmed had already condemned the invasion on Dangote Cement Plant Obajana.

He said "the action by Kogi State is of great concern, and added that it is unimaginable that a State government would take such drastic action to shut down a plant that provides job opportunities and economic activities on a huge scale for the people of Kogi State" 

“The action appears to be taken by government and it is alleged to be an effort for some alleged claim on some alleged payment of taxes that have not been made or recovered from the company,” Ahmed said.

He added that the move is totally illegitimate, pointing out that if the State government has any issue against any member of its association or corporate citizen, the appropriate thing to do is to take the member to court.

“You cannot use strong-arm tactics to shut them down or impose very severe restrictions on their operations simply to force them. This is illegal and I believe that what has happened will not happen in a normal operating environment,” the MAN boss said.

He said the association has taken up the matter with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in its bid to help address the anomaly in Kogi State.

“We have no reason not to pay taxes to the Kogi State government as and when due and I am aware that Dangote Industries is one of the highest tax-payers in Nigeria. But, if indeed for whatever reason that there is a tax for the Kogi State government on Dangote, it has measures and ways of recovery and there is no justification to threaten the closure of that industry. 

No fewer than seven staff of Dangote Cement Company Obajana in Kogi State have been shot and several others by injured as armed members of Kogi State Vigilante Service stormed the cement factory yesterday.

It was gathered that they were there to enforce the order of the state governor, Yahaya Bello.

A statement from Dangote Group’s Corporate Communications Department stated that the vigilantes group was led by the state director-general of Lands, Nasir Ochi, security adviser to the governor, Com. Jerry Omodara (rtd) and other top officials of Kogi State government.

The vigilante group members were said to be wielding arms of different kinds including local and assorted rifles as residents and passersby scamper for safety. As at the time of filing this report some seven staff members of the cement company were being attended to at the hospitals over the gunshot wounds inflicted on them.

The incident occurred during what was described as an invasion of the company’s premises at the behest of the state government.

According to a statement by the General Manager, Corporate Communications at the Dangote Group, Sunday Esan, the vigilante group was led by the state Director-General of Lands, Commissioner for Solid Minerals, and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security,  Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd).

Others were: Chairman of Kabba/Bunnu LGA, Chairman of Ijumu LGA  and the State ALGON Chairman, Alhaji Taofeek; Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation, Mr. Dele Iselewa, and Chairman of Lokoja LGA, Alhaji Mohammed Dansabe.

Reacting, the government of the state said the Kogi State House of Assembly ordered the company’s closure after its investigation into the cement factory’s operation allegedly revealed that no valid acquisition took place for the company.

The state House of Assembly alleged that Dangote, upon invitation by the Assembly, requested more time but did not appear at the House to show any evidence to the contrary.