Group Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina (left); Special Adviser to Dangote, Dan Kunle; President, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Vice President, Dangote Industries, Devakumar Edwin, and Executive Assistant to Dangote, Jamilu Gidado, during a visit to the Governor at his Oke-Mosan office, Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday.
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said that his company decided to go back and invest in Ogun State because of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration’s vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting investors as well as the investor-friendly climate that exists in the state.
Dangote, who stated this, yesterday, during a courtesy visit to the governor at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said Ogun State is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria that has crafted itself as the manufacturing ‘bedrock’ of Nigeria.
Dangote regretted that the over $580 million Itori cement factory was supposed to have been long completed and commissioned but for the opposition of ex-Govenor Ibikunle Amosun to the project.
He said: “I will like to commend Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, for your vision, and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through immense support for the private sector, which is now attracting investors.
“Our factory at Itoro was pulled down twice. When we started the second time, they did not only demolish the factory but also the fence, so we left. But right now, we are back. When you get to the factory, you will be surprised at what we have done.
“We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of your policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say that we are back and are going to work with the state government and return to Olokola and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country.”
Dangote said two new lines of a 6.0 million metric tonnes yearly cement plant had been constructed at Itori, while the 12 million metric tonnes yearly cement plant is also domiciled at Ibeshe.
He said that on completion, the total capacity of the company’s cement plants in the state would be in the neighbourhood of 18 million metric tonnes yearly, making it the highest cement-producing state or region in Africa.
Dangote, who stated that investment in the manufacturing of cement had made the nation self-sufficient in the product and in fertiliser with the surplus going for the export market thus earning the nation the needed foreign exchange, said that the company is currently meeting domestic demand for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from its 650,000 barrels per day refinery at Ibeju-Lekki, and refined aviation fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Responding, Abiodun described the day the Dangote Refinery groundbreaking was performed in Lagos as “the day of heartbreak for sons and daughters of Ogun State as they watch helplessly on the television,” saying that it was an indication that the project had left Olokola.
He said: “I want to thank you for coming back to Ogun State and also for your belief and trust in your country, Nigeria. I want to thank you for all that you have done, the number of people that you have employed, and the impact you continue to make not just in this state, but in Nigeria as a whole.
“The governor lauded the company for not shirking on its Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities, just as it is currently constructing the Inter-change-Papalanto-Ilaro Road.
Meanwhile, in reaction to Dangote’s claim, Senator Ibikunle Amosun Media Office, through a statement by Lanre Akinwale, said: “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.”
The Guardian
