By Olamide FAKEYE
Nigeria – A rights group, known as Yewa North Patriotic Front, YNPF, in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun has sent a Save Our Soul, SOS, letter to the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR over what they call nonchalant attitude of the management of Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese in their local government.
The forum in their letter signed by the President Adeyemi Sunday and Fatolu Ganiyu, General Secretary said, “The operation of the company has consistently and persistently led to environmental degradation of the area, water, air, and land pollution, destruction of natural habitation, and waste disposal systems that are harmful to the health of our people”.
They alleged, “The Corporate Social Responsibility which ought to be the communal right of the Communities of the Company itself is not being met. It only exists in the media and has nothing to show in a real sense”.
The most appalling and disgusting side of the story, according to them is that of the various towns and villages around the factory like, Igbogila, Igua, Ijoun, Igan Alade, etc that have been subjected to total darkness for months as a result of driving of their reckless drivers who hit and fell most of the electric poles in the vicinity of the company, “facts which were gotten from the investigation we conducted and it took the company almost a year before donating material needed for the repair”, the forum stated.
The full letter is below:
His Excellency,
Prince Dr Dapo Abiodun MFR CON
Executive Governor,
Ogun State
Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta
Dear Sir,
AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR DAPO ABIODUN MFR CON ON DANGOTE CEMENT FACTORY IBESE: A DISASTER TO THE HOST COMMUNITIES
The attention of the Yewa North Patriotic Forum has been drawn to the high level of humiliation and environmental destruction being melted on the people of Yewa North as a result of the establishment of Dangote Cement Factory, Ibese Yewa North, Ogun State.
Against all odds, the host community and its surrounding suburbs have been bitterly affected as a result of the ill-treatment from the Company’s management which is totally against the agreement before commencement of operations.
Yewa North is known to be a conducive and business-friendly area with steady light and motorable roads in some areas but since the inception of the Dangote Cement Factory in this area, life has no longer been the same as many good things that the company met on the ground started to diminish and depreciate without any remorse from the Company.
Dangote cement factory was established some years back and many were of the view that the Company would bring in fortunes and positive effects to the host communities.
Some of the good things we envisaged then were the stability of light, employment opportunities, empowerment of the youths, and poverty eradication to mention but a few. All these expectations which were also the promises from the stakeholders have been jeopardized as the citizens and residents of the host communities have experienced more bitterness than good.
The operation of the company has consistently and persistently led to environmental degradation of the area, water, air, and land pollution, destruction of natural habitation, and waste disposal systems that are harmful to the health of our people.
As projected and expected, our youth are not gainfully employed in the company, no tangible empowerment for our people, our roads are bad as a result of the heavy trucks.
The most appalling and disgusting side of the story is that of the various towns and villages around the factory like Igbogila, Igua, Ijoun, Igan Alade, etc that have been subjected to total darkness for months as a result of driving of their reckless drivers who hit and fell most of the electric poles in the vicinity of the company, facts which were gotten from the investigation we conducted and it took the company almost a year before donating material needed for the repair.
Yewa North Patriotic Forum frown at this ugly situation and how deplorable we have become in the host communities since Dangote Cement Factory came on board.
The Corporate Social Responsibility which ought to be the communal right of the Communities of the Company itself is not being met. It only exists in the media and has nothing to show in a real sense.
The company has turned itself into a clog in the wheel of progress for residents, micro, small and medium-scale businesses struggling to survive amid worsening economic conditions which has further created an unfriendly operating environment.
After painstakingly gathering the necessary information about the company, we arrived at the conclusion that it’s high time we raise our voices to the air so that the world can listen to us and how we have been cheated many years ago.
However, we must not accept such a peanut and ridiculous offer from anyone who has been maximizing on our resources for profitable business at the expense of our sustainability.
There must be a stop to all this unguided behavior. Our lives are so paramount to us and we must claim it because it’s our rights.
The community development agreement signed some years back is yet to be implemented which calls for a serious concern.
Yewa North Patriotic Forum which serves as the umbrella body of the progressive-minded citizens of Yewa North where the Dangote Cement Ibese is located is hereby sending her stringent warnings to the management of Dangote Cement, Ibese, and all the necessary stakeholders to wake up from their slumbers and do what’s adequately required from them under the law and in line with Community Development Agreements policy for a continued communal relationship and peaceful co-existence that will favor the two parties.
All our infrastructures are in a state of comatose, our rivers are no longer drinkable due to the effects of chemical exposure.
We hereby demand for the following:
* Speedy repair and restoration of the deplorable light in the affected areas in due course.
* Engagement of members of Yewa North Patriotic Forum in the event of deliberating on the company’s Community Social Responsibility for a sense of belonging
* Empowerment program for our youths
* Provision of employment opportunities for our graduates who are indigenes of the community.
*Reconstruction of damaged roads caused by Dangote Heavy Trucks
All the aforementioned are not too much to provide, we implore the company to treat this with the high level of urgency it deserves.
Our communities deserve better living conditions and a conducive atmosphere.
Thanks.
Yours,
Adeyemi Sunday
President
Fatolu Ganiyu
General Secretary
