Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, accused former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun of twice demolishing his cement plant project in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area.
This project, which includes two new production lines, is in addition to the existing Dangote cement plant in Ibese.
Dangote, during a visit to Governor Dapo Abiodun, stated that his company returned to the Itori site due to the current administration’s investor-friendly policies, despite the previous demolitions.
He said “Our factory at Itori was pulled down twice. When we started the second time, they not only demolished the factory but also the fence, so we left. But right now, because of His Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back. When you visit the factory, you will be surprised at what we have done.”
Dangote, Governor Abiodun, and their team inspected the Itori plant site, where Dangote reiterated his claim of Amosun’s demolition actions.
Governor Abiodun then added that Amosun’s administration had attempted to disrupt Dangote’s projects in Ogun State three times, including the refinery project that is now located in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos State.
Abiodun said, “The first time by frustrating the construction of the refinery, a $20Billion investment, an investment that would have impacted the entire South West of Nigeria. I’m sure in that refinery, Dangote employs in the region of 10,000 people there, a minimum probably and multiply effects, maybe another 30,000 who are benefitting directly. We lost that.
“They further came here and demolished this place (Itori plant project) twice. You begin to wonder what informs such leadership decisions.”
Regarding the cement plant, Dangote assured that upon completion, the combined capacity of Dangote’s cement plants in Ogun State would reach approximately 18 million metric tons per annum, making the state the highest cement-producing region in Africa.
“With the contributions of other cement producers in the state, Ogun remains far ahead of other countries across Africa in terms of cement production,” he said.
Dangote Cement holds the position of Africa’s top cement producer, boasting a 52 million metric ton annual capacity across the continent. Nigeria accounts for 70% of this production, with the Obajana plant in Kogi State being the largest in Africa, producing 16.25 million metric tons annually.
Dangote Group President highlighted that investments in cement and fertilizer manufacturing have led to national self-sufficiency in both products, with surplus production being exported to generate foreign exchange.
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In response, former Governor Amosun, through his media aide Lanre Akinwale, issued a statement requesting that Dangote provide the public with the necessary approvals for the construction of the allegedly demolished structures.
He stated this would help clarify the situation and reveal the precise nature of Dangote’s grievances.
Amosun asserted that “not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed,” adding that the notion that everyone has a price “is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing.”
The statement reads “We have just seen a footage in which the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleged that his cement factory in Itori, Ogun State, was demolished twice while Senator Ibikunle Amosun served as governor.
“We assume that an average person understands how government functions through Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, with each exercising mandates on specific responsibilities, including approvals for physical development.
“It is on this basis that we want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.
“This will, at least, help the public to put the issue in proper context and for us to know what exactly his grouse is.
“For us, as a government, we believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.
“It is important to note that at the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, Dangote praised the Amosun Administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.
“Dangote is just one of the many going concerns in Ogun State, and the Amosun Administration is on record to have attracted over 500 companies to the state and was acknowledged by the World Bank as one of the top three states ensuring Ease-of-Doing-Business in Nigeria.
“Highlighted as one of the top reforming states in 2014, which marked a significant improvement from its previous rankings, the World Bank report attributed this progress to substantial reforms across multiple indicators like Construction Permits and Property Registration.
“It is also on record that during Senator Amosun’s administration, Ogun State became the “Industrial Capital” of Nigeria. Our state at the time accounted for about 75 per cent of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), in relation to industry in the country. This is a fact subject to verification.
“This recognition was further given fillip to by former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, when he visited Ogun State to commission multinational projects on five different occasions.
“Thus, while we will not give vent to this obvious mischief as it is deliberate, we will advise Alhaji Dangote to furnish the public with details of the land acquisition with relevant planning approvals, and let us engage in a constructive conversation therefrom.
“However, while we will wait to hear from him, we will like to state that not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed. The notion that everyone has a price is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing. This is why some of us will continue to uphold high standards in all our undertakings, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”
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