Obajana Cement Plant Dispute: Dangote Calls For Calm As Yahaya Bello Digs In

The Management of Dangote Cement Plc, has appealed to all its staff and customers to remain calm while the company explored all possible legal steps to address what it claimed as the illegal shutdown of its Obajana plant by the Kogi government.

Mr Michel Punchercos, Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

GWG.NG reports that an attempt by Alhaji Aliko Dangote to meet Governor Yahaya Bello few days ago was rebuffed by Governor Yahaya Bello who it was gathered was insistent on the company showing documentary proof of its claim to Obajana Cement plant.

It was gathered that Dangote had sought to fly in by helicopter into Lokoja but Governor Bello claimed not to be available having gone canoeing during inspection of the flood disaster in the state.

Punchercos in the statement stressed that the welfare of the company’s staff remained a key focus as the company worked hard to minimise further impact on its people and operations.

He said the company had taken steps to get the hoodlums apprehended by the law enforcement agencies, and would ensure that full legal action was taken against them.

“The management of Dangote Cement Plc, wishes to inform members of the public, especially its customers and other stakeholders of the recent invasion of its Obajana Cement Plant, Kogi by armed vigilantes on the orders of the state government.

“The vigilantes, led by some officials of the state government were apparently acting on a resolution of the Kogi state House of Assembly on controversial tax claims.

“Claims that the state governor had also contradicted when he said the shutdown was due to an alleged invalid acquisition of the company by Dangote Industries Ltd.

“In the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shots at 27 of our workers and also destroyed some of the company’s property at the plant.

“While we reiterate that Obajana Cement plant is 100 per cent owned by Dangote Cement PLC, we remain resolute in transforming Africa, while creating sustainable value for our people, communities, investors and customers,” he said. (NAN)

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