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Tag: BUA

  • Controversy as BUA, CACOVID trade words over procurement of 1m AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria

    Controversy as BUA, CACOVID trade words over procurement of 1m AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria

    There is confusion over the purchase of one million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria.

    The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) yesterday disowned BUA’s purported plan to purchase one million COVID-19 vaccines singlehandedly for Nigeria.

    BUA was quoted on Monday that it has paid for 1 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria through the AFREXIM Vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID.

    BUA said a prominent member of CACOVID is not happy that the company undertook the purchase of the vaccines singlehanded, which informed plans to discredit what it has done to save the lives of Nigerians.

    The company, in a rejoinder, titled: “BUA replies CACOVID,” said it received with utter shock reports allegedly attributed to CACOVID disowning its earlier payment through CACOVID for one million AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria through the AFREXIM Vaccine platform.

    It explained that at the CACOVID steering committee meeting held on Monday, members were informed by the CBN Governor that CACOVID had been given the opportunity through the Afrexim platform to access and pay for one million doses, provided payment was made same day or Tuesday-failure which the opportunity to get those doses by next week might be lost.

    “After extensive deliberations, there was no agreement reached despite members being offered the opportunity to donate funds towards procuring the doses at the agreed rate of US$3.45 per dose, totalling US$3,430,000,000, which translates to N1.31 billion.

    “The Chairman of BUA also requested through the CBN Governor that the naira equivalent be paid to the relevant account with CBN, and that CBN forward the dollar payment to Afrexim on CACOVID’s behalf. This payment was made immediately after the meeting and BUA transferred the money to the CBN in order to meet the deadline.

    “However, with this development by CACOVID Operations Committee, we now have just cause to believe that some members of CACOVID are not happy that BUA took this initiative in the interest of Nigeria and to ensure that the deadline was met to receive the one million doses of the vaccines next week,” it explained.

    BUA Group said it did this gesture in good faith as it had done with its interventions throughout the pandemic, saying that “we will however like to state clearly that we are aware that a prominent member of CACOVID is not happy that BUA took the initiative to pay for the vaccines-fulfilling our pledge just as we said during the meeting.

    “It is time for us to come together to help Nigerians and it does not matter who is helping or paying. We stand ready to keep supporting and despite this petty action, we have decided to let the money remain in the CACOVID Account with the CBN pending when they are ready to utilise the funds for Nigerians to access the vaccines.”

  • Edo Government lied, we never declared BUA MD wanted – Police

    Sequel to a statement released by Robin Crusoe, spokesman to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State purported declaring the Managing Director of Obu Cement Company, a subsidiary of BUA Group, Yusuf Binji, wanted, the Nigerian Police have reacted insisting it never made such declaration.

    The statement claimed that Binji sponsored attacks on the governor’s convoy at Okpella.

    The state government has been at the centre of a bitter dispute between BUA and rival Dangote Group over ownership and operation of a mining site in the area.

    In November, the state government directed that the disputed site be shut down pending the resolution of court disputes on the matter. The BUA challenged that decision in court.

    However, on Tuesday Mr. Obaseki visited the BUA premises and ordered its forceful shutdown, while two staff of the company were whisked away on his orders.

    A new dimension was introduced Thursday evening with the statement from Mr. Crusoe which alleged that BUA was maintaining a militia in Okpella, which was used in attacking the governor.

    Mr. Crusoe said the police had since declared Mr. Binji wanted.

    However, the police spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, on Friday denied the claim.

    He said neither the police headquarters nor the state command of the police has issued such an order on Mr. Binji.

    Mr. Moshood, a chief superintendent of police, also said he was unaware that Mr. Obaseki was attacked, as alleged by the state government.

    “But if it is true that the governor is attacked then the state command should investigate,” he said.

  • Police declare BUA MD wanted for allegedly sponsoring attacks against Obaseki

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State was on Thursday attacked in the state.

    This was revealed by spokesperson to the governor, Robin Crusoe in a statement.

    According to Crusoe, the Managing Director of BUA’s Obu Cement Company, Yusuf Binji, has been declared wanted over the attack.

    BUA and Dangote cement have been at loggerheads over the ownership of a mining site in Okpella, Edo State.

    The state government asked that work stop on the site and on Wednesday led security officials there were two BUA staff were arrested for allegedly continuing work.

    Crusoe further quoted the police as saying that the attack on the governor was sponsored by Mr. Binji.

    Details later…

    Read the full statement below.

    The Nigeria Police have declared the Managing Director of BUA’s Obu Cement Company, Yusuf Binji, wanted over an attack on the convoy of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

    Also attacked were some officials of the Edo State Government who were on the convoy of the Edo State Governor.

    According to the police, the decision to declare Mr. Binji wanted became necessary as it had earlier received intelligence that BUA International Limited is sponsoring militias in Okpella, Edo State, where the company has a cement factory and mine sites.

    These militias, the police said, were allegedly sponsored by Binji and his team to attack the convoy of the governor, cause harm and mayhem.

  • BUA lied on claims to mines ownership – Dangote

    The management of Dangote Industries Limited has again rejected BUA Group’s claim to being the rightful owner of Mining Lease No 2541.

    Dangote, in a statement yesterday, said its reaction became necessary as a result of its status as a publicly quoted company and to further re-assure its shareholders, the regulators and members of the public that the company is and remains a responsible corporate citizen.

    Faulting BUA’s claim that the Dangote Group is trying to monopolise the cement business in the country, the statement said BUA has willfully, deliberately and mischievously concealed the fact that it has at least 12 Mining/Quarry Leases within and around the area in question as opposed to this sole Mining Lease No 2541 owned by the Dangote Group.

    It added: “First and foremost, there is no status quo order made by any court that allows BUA to continue mining over the disputed Mining Lease area. In fact, there is no status quo order at all. It is critical for us to point out that there is currently pending, a Motion for Interlocutory Injunction dated 27 April 2016 seeking to restrain the BUA Group from continuing with its illegal mining activities on the Mining Lease Area.

    “But in spite of having been served with this application and contrary to all tenets of the law, which forbid a party served with an interlocutory injunction motion from taking any step in respect of the subject matter of the suit, the BUA Group has in utter disdain to the court continued with its illegal mining activities.”

    Dangote said BUA applied for a Mining Lease over the same area in 2013, but the application was rejected by the ministry on the sole ground that it overlaps ML. 2541, which at the time belonged to AICO.

    “If BUA had title that dates back to 1998, is there any conceivable reason why it will apply for the same title over the same area in 2013?” the statement queried.

    Dangote, while debunking the claim by BUA that it is trying to monopolise the cement business, stated: “It is misleading for BUA to falsely accuse Dangote of undermining its operations and attempting to create a monopoly in the cement Industry in Nigeria, as we have always coexisted peacefully with other competitors in Obajana and Ibese.”

    The Dangote Group affirmed that it has been the one in possession of the Mining Lease since 2016 and this was recently confirmed by the Kogi State High Court’s judgment delivered on October 27, 2017 in the charge: State v. Joshua Oghene, Hon. Haruna Afegbua and Bulus Golit, which sentenced the Chief Security Officer of BUA Group, Mr. Bulus Golit to one year imprisonment without any option of fine, for attacking Dangote Group’s officials and workers in the Mining Lease No. 2541.

    “The imprisonment of BUA Chief Security Officer among other things has confirmed that the claim by the BUA Group that it has been in possession is totally fallacious,” the statement said.

  • Alleged theft: FG orders Dangote, Bua to vacate mining site in Edo

    Sequel to the ongoing crisis between heavy weight manufacturing companies; Dangote Group and BUA Group over the mining right in Obuh community, in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, the Federal Government has ordered the parties involved should vacate the site to avoid break down of law and order in the area.


    But the community leaders who expressed worry over the development, accused the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals of causing the crisis by giving licences to the feuding parties to mine in the same site and urged both the Federal and Edo State Governments to urgently find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, adding that further escalation of the crisis will negatively affect both revenue and employment opportunities of the community people.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who disclosed the Federal Government’s directive at a meeting with leaders and elders of Okpella community at Government House in Benin City, Monday, noted that parties involved in the crisis were in court, therefore, the Federal Government had decided that further mining in Obuh community be suspended to allow for peaceful resolution of the crisis in court.

    Obaseki said: “We are following the rule of law. There is a dispute, it is not unusual to have disputes over assets but there are laid down methods of resolving disputes of this nature. What we understand as a government is that there is dispute or claim between two parties over an existing mining right and the Mining Act of 2007 is quite clear.

    The Federal Ministry of Mines decides on how to award or issue leases. “In this particular case, there are multiple claims and they have gone to court. We have a letter from the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power instructing that the party currently mining that particular site should vacate pending the outcome of the decision in court. So the position of Edo State Government today is that the court orders must be obeyed.”

    Federal Government´s instruction should be obeyed, that mine should be shut until the outcome or the determination of the case in court.” Speaking also, spokesman of Okpella community, Mr Ayuba Giwa, said “What we are saying in our response to the reference of the matter to the Presidency is that we blame the Federal Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals as they ought to be more prudent in granting mineral licence.

    We employed all parties to abide by the rule of law and the rule of law includes the fact that in 1994, Okpella took this matter to the Federal High Court in Benin City and judgment was given in favour of Okpella. “It became clear to us that the Ministry was not complying with the judgment which was partly responsible for this debacle we are now. In 2014, Okpella went to the Federal High Court, Benin City, so it is not just only BUA and Dangote that is in court, Okpella is also in court.

    So it is fair and just that the matter is resolved, including the interest of the community and Edo State because any breach of peace will impact on our people first and that is why we came to see Mr Governor,” he stated.

  • Dangote accuses BUA of stealing, illegally mining limestone on its properties

    The management of Dangote Group has accused BUA of engaging in illegal mining of limestone deposited in its Mining Lease No. 2541 located in a boundary town of Oguda/Ubo in Okene, Kogi State.

    Dangote’s Executive Director, Mr. Devakumar Edwin, at a press conference in Lagos yesterday frowned at the media war instigated by BUA against the Dangote Group over a matter which is already pending before the Federal High Court in Benin-City.

    Edwin revealed that “Dangote Group validly acquired its interest and mining title in the disputed Mining Lease No. 2541 from AICO Ado Ibrahim & Company Limited sometime in 2014. AICO itself had applied to the Mining Cadastre Office and Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for the said Mining Lease No. 2541 located in a boundary town of Oguda/Ubo in Okene, Kogi State in 2007.

    The ministry in exercise of its power under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, granted and issued to AICO ML. No. 2541 for the renewable period of 25 years effective from February 1, 2008, and to expire on January 31, 2033. Thus AICO by virtue of the said grant, became vested with the legal title over ML. No. 2541.

    “In 2014, the Dangote Group approached AICO and indicated interest in acquiring AICO’s stake in ML No. 2541. In 2014, AICO in exercise of its right under the Mining Act, applied to the Ministry for the transfer of its title in the ML No. 2541 to Dangote Group. AICO and Dangote Group equally paid all the transfer and statutory fees demanded by the Ministry.”

    He further explained: “By a letter dated 05 February 2016, the ministry wrote to the Managing Director of the Dangote Group to convey its approval for the Transfer/Assignment of ML No. 2541 from AICO to Dangote Group with effect from February 3, 2016. Following the successful transfer of ML. NO. 2541 to Dangote Group, the Group became the holder of the Mining Lease No. 2541.”

    He said even BUA in its processes in court, acknowledged that these illegal mining leases which it claimed were granted in 1997 were temporary mining leases.

    Edwin further stated that the then Minister of Solid Minerals during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, sometime in 2006 waded into the dispute and invited the managements of Edo Cement Company Limited and AICO Ado Ibrahim & Company Limited for a meeting and that in the course of the meeting, the then minister again queried the legality of Mining Lease Nos 18912 and 18913 and the power of the governor of Edo State to grant such mining leases.

    “At the end of the meeting, the minister declared the Edo Cement’s Mining Leases Nos. 18912 and 18913 illegal and declared the mining site open for interested investors. Given that AICO’s then existing Mining Lease No. 17825 was yet to be renewed even though application for renewal was pending, AICO in 2007 (under the Mining Act, 2007) applied for the fresh Mining Lease No. 2541 and the ministry granted it in 2008 without any objection from Edo Cement Company,” he said. Edwin said AICO, which sold the right to Dangote, continued its mining operations in the Mining Lease No. 2541 undisturbed until BUA Group acquired Edo Cement Company Limited and resuscitated the dispute again.

    Edwin further revealed that it was the attempt by BUA to encroach on AICO’s mining title in Mining Lease No. 2541 that prompted AICO to write to the Ministry in 2015 complaining of BUA’s encroachment.

    He said: “The ministry, after investigation in the same 2015 by the letter dated 21 January 2015, wrote to the chairman of BUA Group directing BUA to stop mining within the ML. No. 2541. It was this same letter from the ministry that prompted BUA to file a Suit at the Federal High Court Benin in 2016.”

    Edwin said: “It is therefore appalling that BUA Group in the midst of these overwhelming facts would still want the public to believe that Dangote Group is after its business when in actual fact BUA has been the one mining illegally in Dangote Mining Lease and attacking its officials without any justification…

    “The crocodile tears being shed by BUA in its cry for help and open letter to the president is most laughable and a total distraction from BUA’s continuous illegal activities within Dangote’s ML 2541 aimed at depleting and exhausting the limestone reserves in order to sabotage Dangote Group’s legitimate investment.”

    Meanwhile, BUA group has dismissed the claims by Dangote Group, describing it as a desperate move to disregard judicial process and scheme it out of business.

    In a statement by its Group Head, Corporate Communications, Otega Ogra, the company said it was compelled to clarify the cycle of misinformation being spread by Dangote, adding that BUA does not have any operations whatsoever in Okene, Kogi State where the purported ML2541 is situated.

    The statement read in parts: “This latest statement by Dangote Group stinks of desperation in its continued attempt to disregard the judicial process and scheme a viable competitor out of business as has been their legendary antecedent.

    “We thus wish to reiterate once again that whilst we do not want to join issues with anyone on this matter as it is currently before a court of competent jurisdiction, we are however compelled to use the opportunity presented by Edwin Devakumar’s reckless statements to clarify the cycle of misinformation being proliferated.

    “In specific response to Devakumar’s claim of BUA operating on ML2541 in Okene, Kogi State, we wish to restate that BUA does not have any operations whatsoever in Okene, Kogi State where the purported ML2541 is situated.

    “Our mining operations are limited to Obu-Okpella, Edo State for which licences ML18912 & 18913 were issued and revalidate by the same ministry in a publication. These licences have been owned, operated and fulfilled by BUA and its predecessors-in-title since 1976 as it is also a notorious fact that we have exercised total control and possession over the mining area covered by the above mining leases since 1976 when we operated under the name of Bendel Cement Company Limited. We thus want to excuse Edwin’s claims to a lack of basic knowledge and understanding of the geography of Nigeria but he will be better served if he seeks professional opinion in critically understanding the geography of Nigeria or he should otherwise refer to documents from the boundary commission which clearly delineates boundaries within Nigeria.

    “It is public information that neither Dangote nor AICO or anyone for that matter can claim ownership of ML2541 as was stated in a court injunction by a Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja in suit FHC/LK/CS/25/2017 between Alhaji Mohammed Otaru Adeika & Ors. Versus AICO Ado Ibrahim and Company Limited, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel, The Mining Cadestre Office and Dangote Industries Plc. How then can they continue to claim in obvious disregard of that court order that the ML2541 belongs to them? No one is above the law.

    “The antecedents of Dangote Plc in trying to out-muscle competition is not in doubt. Various cases abound within and outside the cement industry – one of which was their taking over of the limestone deposits of another competing entity in the South-south region of Nigeria until they ceded him 25% of their company. This was in turn resold to them for hundreds of millions of dollars. Or is it the case of Ibeto whose business was almost driven under but for the prompt intervention of the then late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Or is it the case of Polo House Jetty Tincan previously owned by his uncle, Usman Dantata, whose licence was revoked by NPA and reallocated to Dangote on the same day in order to prevent a sugar refinery to be sited there by a competitor.

    “The facts of the matter as far as we are concerned is that BUA’s operations are in Obu, Okpella, Edo State and not Okene, Kogi. We once again ask that all parties should wait for the court to resolve the issue. We will not be cowed or intimidated and will continue to seek redress through the proper legal channels.”