By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Dangote Cement Plc has further earned itself the trust of its host communities in Okpella, Edo State by complying with 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.
The company signed the first Community Development Agreement (CDA) with its host communities in Okpella, Edo State.
Signing the agreement on behalf of the company at Okpella, the Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Mohammed Ismaeel, said, the purpose is aimed at promoting harmonious and mutual benefits between the mining company and its host communities.
“Today’s occasion is not only a demonstration of our compliance to these regulatory provisions as a responsible corporate organization but it also demonstration of our commitment to the development and overall well being of our host communities.
“For us as a company, we believe in the mantra, “Good neighbourliness is good business” hence we do everything possible to maintain harmonious relationship with the communities where we operate”, Ismaeel added.
He added that the occasion marks the beginning of concrete infrastructural development and social supports in the areas of education, improved access to health care, economic empowerment programmes targeted at the youths, women and the farming population, improved access to potable water, support to improve electrification and power supply among other things.
He said the the CDA also provides for scholarship grants for students in secondary and tertiary institutions to promote excellence in educational pursuits of indigent students from our host communities.
The Plant Director said the CDA document clearly states the consultative framework for engagements, grievance management and obligations of both the Plant and the host communities for mutual growth and development stressing that, It is clearly a path to define relationships, commitments, obligations and expectations with potential to address immediate concerns and future social issues that may arise in the course of the relationship between the company and its host communities.
Speaking also, the Edo State Commissioner for Mines and Energy, Hon. Donatus Ojiefoh, said that the state governor will always support any investors who wants to invest in the state.
He assured the people of the communities that more investors are willing to come and invest in the state but that the people most be willing to cooperate and provide the enabling environment for them to operate.
Ojiefoh admitted that it is imperative for students to study the mineral resources that are abound in their communities in order to be able to appreciate them.
The Commissioner while addressing the company, said the host communities should be the ones who should tell the companies operating in their communities what they want and not the other way round.
For the Local Government chairman, Hon. Benedicta Attoh, she commended the company for signing the agreement even though it was a little bit late but added that it was better late than never.
She called the mining companies (BUA and Dangote) to urgently help with the payment of the N300 million monumentization of the boundary between Okpella and Kogi State.
Speaking for the host communities, High Chief Afiabor Peter, Secretary, Ukhomunyio Council of Village Heads (Afokpella) thanked the Dangote’s Cement for the signing of the Community Development Agreement (CDA), saying that it was a welcome development as it will benefit everyone.
He expressed confidence that all that are contained in the agreement were through reflections of the wish and a
spirations of the host communities.