By Nana Musa

The Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, and the Jakura Community on Wednesday sealed an historic Community Development Agreement (CDA) that will enable the company to implement mutually agreed social projects in the next five years.

The CDA is one of many CDAs that the Company have with its host communities, which serves as pathways for transfer of several impactful socio-economic development programmes  and projects.

At the ceremony, the Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Azad Nawabuddin, said the pact was in fulfilment of the provisions of section 116 of the Minerals and Mining Act 2007, and section 193 of the Minerals and Mining Regulation 2011 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Represented by John Gwong, Chief General Manager, Production, Nawabuddin said the Agreement demonstrated the company’s commitment to the development and overall well-being of Jakura community.

“For us as a company, we believe in the mantra, good neighbourliness is good business, hence we do everything conceivable to maintain harmonious relationship with the communities where we operate.

“We look forward to the support of the State and Local Government as we seek to collaborate with relevant agencies of the state to implement some of the developmental programmes cited in this Agreement.”

According to him, a governing structure will be set up for the implementation of the content of the Agreement.

The Group Head,  Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Wakeel Olayiwola, said the Agreement followed the stipulated steps as per the CDA development guideline as amended in 2023.

He said though the year has almost ended, the company would begin implementation of the content of the CDA, while assuring of commitment to a robust company-community relations.

The Group Head, Health, Safety,  Social, Environment & Sustainability, Dangote Industries Ltd (DIL), Mr James Adenuga, said the company was a responsible corporate entity, adding that it was the right thing to do to smoothen the company’s social license to operate.

General Manager, Social Performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, Mr Ademola Adeyemi, commended the Jakura community for being supportive throughout the process of drafting the Agreement.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, said the government was proud of the Dangote Cement for being a responsible corporate citizen, urging the community to continue co-existing with the company peacefully.

The Minister, who was represented by Mrs Bimbo Olaoye, said the government would continue to ensure that the company enjoys smooth operational turf, while also creating jobs and implementing social programmes.

Also, in attendance and sharing the same view are Federal Mines Environment Compliance Officer, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Olufemi Olaitan, Director, Geological Services, Kogi State Ministry of Solid Minerals, Mrs Atinuke Onimode, Chairman, House Committee on Solid Minerals, Kogi Sate House of Assembly, Mrs Omotayo Ishaya and her Vice, Jibril Abu.

Speaking on behalf of his community, the Obaro of Jakura community, Usman Adoga said: “This is a dream come true. Some of us who aspire to see this come true are not alive. It is indeed an historic event, and the Jakura community will never be the same again.”

He commended Dangote Cement Plc for its unwavering interventions in several communities in Kogi.

In his remark, the Olu of Apata, Frederick Balogun, said Mr Aliko Dangote is a God-sent, promising that the communities would continue to be peaceful and be the ambassador of the Dangote Group.

Representative of the Chairman Lokoja Local Government Area, Danjuma Abubakar, said the people of Kogi would continue to be the Ambassadors of Mr Aliko Dangote for his numerous interventions in their lives.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz