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Tag: Obajana Cement Plant

  • NSC orders the re-opening of Obajana cement plant in Kogi state

    NSC orders the re-opening of Obajana cement plant in Kogi state

    The National Security Council (NSC) has issued an order for the re-opening of the Obajana cement plant shut down by the Kogi State Assembly last week.

    The decision to re-open the plant enmeshed in crisis since last week in Kogi state was taken today, (Friday) at a security meeting held in Abuja the country’s capital.

    The council also advised that all that issues in contention be resolved legally adding that the government’s commitment to providing employment was not negotiable.

    Recall that the Kogi state House of Assembly last week ordered the closure of the Obajana Cement plant until the issue surrounding ownership of the cement plant was resolved.

    The state government had claimed that available documents showed that the plant belonged to it 100 percent, a claim refuted by the Dangote industries which claimed that the Kogi State Government had no stake whatsoever in the plant adding that the Kogi state government was not entitled to any dividend in the company.

    While the Kogi state government queried Dangote over the purported transfer of Obajana to Dangote Industries Limited as well as tax evasion, an allegation that Dangote, on the other hand, came out to deny.

    In a release signed by the group managing director of Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos, the firm said the Obajana Cement plant in Kogi state is 100 percent owned by the company.

     

  • Dangote, Kogi Govt continue war of words over ownership of Obajana Cement Plant

    Dangote, Kogi Govt continue war of words over ownership of Obajana Cement Plant

    The Kogi State Government and management of Dangote Cement Plc. are at loggerheads over the ownership of Obajana Cement Plant.

    The previous temporary closure of the company by some youths recently has caused a stand-off between the state government and the company, located in Obajana, near Lokoja.

    On Saturday, the state government alleged that the management of the company was plotting to disrupt public peace in the state.

    The state government in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo in Lokoja, said that the government was in possession of evidence to prove its allegations.

    “We have uncovered certain plans by the company at a meeting held last night to cause chaos across the state as a fight back strategy against the state government’s decision to get its own legally supported equity from the cement company” the commissioner said.

    The commissioner further alleged that the management of the company intended to engage other security means to harrass some government officials.

    “They resolved to block all the major highways across the state with their trucks to make traffic unfriendly in the state.

    “If the company attempts to carry out any of his threats or deny our claims which are supported by facts, we will release visuals and audio of their meeting on this,” Fanwo said.

    One of the company’s public relations officials, Mr Abubakar Jibrin would not comment on any issue related to the matter.

    But the management of Dangote Cement Plc. said that the state government allegedly used some groups of persons to destroye the company’s assets and inflict injuries on some staff.

    In a statement issued by the Corporate Communications Department of Dangote Cement Plc. in Lokoja, the management of the company alleged that some people invaded the cement plant on Wednesday.

    “No fewer than 27 staff of the company are currently in bad conditions after the invasion.

    “Cement trucks were also burnt, and many others were vandalised, as they forcefully took the company’s buses and vans.

    “Since the attack, our vehicles carrying diesel have been attacked on Anyigba road,” the statement alleged.

    The statement said that some victims of the invasion were currently admitted to the emergency section of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.