By Bassey Udo
Dangote Group is a big player and a significant contributor to the development of the Nigerian economy, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Safety Commission, Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, has said.
The lawmaker spoke at an interactive session with the host communities of Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, House of Representatives and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
He commended one of Dangote Group subsidiaries, Dangote Coal Mines Limited, for supporting the state government through its multimillion Naira social schemes, and for adopting innovations that have positively impacted the rate of auto crashes in the country.
Samuel reaffirmed the job-creation strides of the company, adding that there was the need for a strong collaboration between the company and the host community, by ensuring they always walk together to implement mutually consented Community Development Agreement(CDA).
A representative of the FRSC, Deputy Corps Marshal, Kayode Fanola, commended the Dangote Group for introducing measures that have helped to significantly crash the rate of accidents in the country.
“I can tell you that we have inspected the facilities at the Dangote Drivers School at Obajana, and they met our standard,” Fanola said.
A representative of the Dangote Transport, Charles Theophilus, said the FRSC officials were always involved in the training of the Dangote drivers.
Early this year, the Dangote Cement Plc established a Drivers School at Obajana in Kogi State equipped with the latest facilities
Representative of the host community and Youth leader, Samuel Adejoh Ibrahim, told lawmakers at the session that the company was implementing the Community Development Agreement signed with the Dangote Group in July 2019.
The Youth leader said the solar-powered boreholes, bridge and road construction, the construction of blocks of classrooms and a clinic were some of the projects implemented by the company at the Awo Akpali community.
Leader of the Dangote Group delegation to the interactive session, Taslim Jimoh, told the lawmakers that the Dangote Group was a law-abiding corporate citizen in the area.
Jimoh said the company has paid compensation to the host communities, adding that other requirements needed for coal mining have also been met.
Head of the Dangote Group Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Ebere Okonkwo, said the Dangote Cement Plc was reviewing its recruitment process and certification of drivers in collaboration with FRSC.
