by: Segun Lawal

Dangote Cement Ibese, a company owned by Africa’s richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote located in Ibese Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State has been issued a 14- day ultimatum by its host community to provide a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU. YCM promised to sabotage the operation of the company, if it fails to meet up with their demands within the next 14 days, counting from 31st May, 2016.

Rising from an enlarged meeting at the weekend by representatives of the host communities under the aegis of Yewa Connecting Minds; an umbrella that comprises both youths and elders in liberation movement of Yewaland as a whole, the body is asking Dangote to implement the agreements entered into with the YCM to honour the accord with its host communities, also slamming the company for not living up to its Corporate Social Responsibility.

“It is sad enough that several accidents occurred across Yewaland are through the operation of Dangote Cement. Reportedly, more than 90% of accidents in Yewa axis are caused by drivers of Dangote who violate traffic rules on the roads already damaged by Dangote Trucks.

It is against this background that the inhabitants of Yewaland felt so much concerned the seemingly nonchalant attitude of Dangote Cement Plc. To their wellbeing and recklessness of her Drivers which had resulted in the untimely death of over two thousand indigenes within the short period of existence of Dangote Cement Plc. in Yewaland; with many dependants of the deceased persons not being compensated at all by Dangote Cement Plc.

In a statement issued by Yewa Connecting Minds, signed by its coordinator, Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abrhama “PEGA”, threatened to impede the smooth operations of the company in its locality if a proper agreement/ Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, was not reached with host communities in respect of its operations.

The community listed the areas where the company failed them:

“Refusal of Dangote to checkmate the recklessness of the truck drivers of its company, resulting in the death of over two thousand indigenes of Yewaland within the short period of the Company; destruction of roads across Yewaland by Dangote trucks; daily suffering of pollution- resulting from the activities of the Company with concomitant hazards of their health as well as potential full scarcity due to several damage to farm produce; deforestation and loss of vegetation cover; Potential displacement, loss of jobs and increase in crime wave due to unemployment and lack of jobs security.

OUR DEMANDS are:

1. Drawing up and execution of an acceptable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Company and her host Communities on the Corporate Social Responsibilities of Dangote Cement Plc. towards her host Communities in Yewaland and her inhabitants.
2. Advancement or growth programmes for Artisans, Market Women and Small Scale Business Owners.
3. Employment of Yewa Youths in Dangote Cement Plc.
4. Construction of Primary Health Centres in the towns and villages in Yewaland as well as up-grading of the General Hospital, Ilaro.
5. Reconstruction of Papalanto/Ilaro Road, Owode Yewa/Ilaro Road, Papalanto/Sagamu Road in conjuction with Federal Government on the Public Private Partnership arrangement, or on the Tax concession basis, or better still on Toll Collecting arrangement.
6. Introduction of Trailer parks to ease the illegal parking of trailers on the road sides.
7. Continued usage of the Dangote Cement Plc. Ilaro Depot and introduction of other Depots at the various headquarters of Local Governments in Ogun West.

“PEGA” therefore said; the ultimatum became necessary following the company’s breach of trust reposed on them and agreement on communiqué submitted to the company during the peace talk with us in March, which resulted in neglect, marginalisation, violation of the rights and privileges of the community in all ramifications.

According to them, the Dangote Cement refused to respond to us since we suspended our protest against them in March for dialogue. They said that such an action could be construed as Dangote underrating its host community regarding what they could do.

In March youths and women moved to shut down Dangote’s operations in the area if not for the swift intervention of the community leaders, who pleaded with us to exercise more patience.

YCM maintained that other communities where Dangote facilities are located- like Obajana and Port-Harcourt are being catered for in terms of amenities, and expressed dismay why the Dangote Cement was playing ‘’a hide and seek game’’ & “divide and rule method” with Yewa communities.

The YCM advised Dangote to deal with them directly without involving a mediator or the third party on the issue.

“We are not against the emergency of Dangote Cement in our communities but vehemently reject the present situation where your company now operates with a manipulated communiqué in place of MoU to the detriment of our collective interest,” Ekunola stated.

According to YCM, we have discovered the presence of fulani headsmen near Dangote Cement in Ibese where they are been stationed by Dangote management in readiness for our planned protest against the company, but let me reassure you, we are battle ready to confront any Fulani herdsman that make attempt to stop our liberation match.

The Community therefore agreed to hand a 14-day ultimatum to the company to enable it implement the agreement in our communiqué submitted to them during our peace talk, failure of which they will shut down Dangote’s activities pending the resolution of the matter.

Signed

Prince Ekunola Gbenga Abraham “PEGA”

Coordinator YCM.

08035155836

Yewa Community had earlier submitted the Communiqué below to the management of Dangote in March in response to their appeal not to disrupt their operation in which they gave the company a 21-day to implement their demands. According to them, the company appealed to be given till end of May but failed to keep their promise

DANGOTE CEMENT IN YEWALAND – A CURSE OR BLESSING?

BEING THE TEXT OF PRESENTATION MADE BY THE ‘YEWA CONNECTING MINDS’ AT A ROUND TABLE MEETING WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF DANGOTE CEMENT PLC IBESE ON THURSDAY 17^TH MARCH 2016 AT IBESE CEMENT PLANT

PROTOCOL:

INTRODUCTION

Businesses thrive within Communities; as such business must take somewhat responsibility for the well-being of their Communities and the people therein. Businesses must also endevour to manage the direct and indirect consequences of their activities. Comprehensively analyzed and critically reflected upon the foregoing does not always have to be in terms of money as it could be packaged in terms of opportunities for advancement and growth, emancipation or operational enhancement. It is against this background that the inhabitants of Yewaland felt so much concerned the seemingly nonchalant attitude of Dangote Cement Plc. To their wellbeing and recklessness of her Drivers which had resulted in the untimely death of over two thousand indigenes within the short period of existence of Dangote Cement Plc. In Yewaland; with many dependants of the deceased person persons not being compensated at all by Dangote Cement Plc.

Instrument of action:

The Group is to assemble at least one million people- comprising of Artisans, Okada Riders, Market Women, Students, Traditional Rulers and Civil Servants among others, towards organizing a peaceful protest against the un-wholesome activities of Dangote Cement Plc and an ineptitude towards the plight of the inhabitants of her host Communities.

REASONS FOR A PEACEFUL PROTEST:

1. It has been reliably observed that till date Dangote Cement, Ibese has failed, refused and/or neglected signing any Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with host Community on Corporate Social Responsibility towards the inhabitants of her host Communities.
2. Recklessness of the truck drivers of Dangote Cement Plc. Resulting in the death of over two thousand indigenes of Yewaland within the short period of the Company existence.
3. Indigenes of the Communities are daily suffering of pollution- resulting from the activities of the Company with concomitant hazards to health as well as potential food scarcity due to severe damage to farm produce.
4. Other Communities where Dangote facilities are located- like Obajana, Gboko and Port-Harcourt are being catered for in terms of amenities.
5. Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover.
6. Potential displacement of Farmers occasioning loss of jobs and increase in crime wave due to unemployment and lack of jobs security.
7. Discrepancies in the employment of indigenes of the host communities-under employment of Professionals.
8. Extension of plant’s electricity facilities to the host communities.
9. Provision of Bursary/Scholarship Awards to Students of the host communities.

CALL BY THE MANAGEMENT FOR A ROUND TABLE TALK:

Propelled by the recent calls by the Management Dangote Cement Plc. For a round table talk on the highlighted issues, coupled with the fact that members of this group are ardent believers in the common saying that it is better to “Jawjaw than to Warwar”; Members have unanimously agreed to come to a round table with the Management of Dangote Cement Plc. in a bid to presenting the Group’s demands, towards finding a lasting solution to a myriad of problems enumerated above.

OUR DEMANDS:-

1. Drawing up and execution of an acceptable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Company and her host Communities on the Corporate Social Responsibilities of Dangote Cement Plc. towards her host Communities in Yewaland and her inhabitants.
2. Advancement or growth programmes for Artisans, Market Women and Small Scale Business Owners.
3. Employment of Yewa Youths in Dangote Cement Plc.
4. Construction of Primary Health Centres in the towns and villages in Yewaland as well as up-grading of the General Hospital, Ilaro.
5. Reconstruction of Papalanto-Ilaro-Obele Road, Ibese/ Ita Oshin (Old Abeokuta Road), Owode Yewa/Ilaro Road, Papalanto/Sagamu Road in conjuction with Federal Government on the Public Private Partnership arrangement.
6. Introduction of Trailer parks to ease the illegal parking of trailers on the road sides.
7. Continued usage of the Dangote Cement Plc. Ilaro Depot and introduction of other Depots at the various headquarters of Local Governments in Ogun West.
8. Dangote Cement Plc. must actively contribute and participate in the annual Yewa Festival (a Festival that involve all traditional Rulers, Youths, Women, Artisans and Professinals in Yewaland).
9. Safety Liaison Officer i.e Dangote Officers, FRSC, TRACE and assigned Community Safety Team.

……………………………………….

Barr. Rotimi Akintunde Esq.

Cc: President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

President of the Senate

Speaker Federal House of Representatives

Governor, Ogun State

Speaker Ogun State House of Assembly

Director DSS

Inspector General of Police

Chairman Yewa South Local Government

Chairman Yewa North Local Government

The Paramount Ruler of Yewa land

All Obas in Yewa Land

All Media Houses