Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, and the Jakura Community sealed a historic Community Development Agreement (CDA) pact toward the implementation of mutually agreed social projects in the next five years.

There was jubilation immediately after the pact was entered into at the plant headquarters in Obajana.

Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, the plant director, Dangote Cement Plc, Azad Nawabuddin, said that the pact would serve as a pathway for the transfer of several impactful socio-economic development programmes and projects.

Represented by John Gwong, chief general manager, production, Mr 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.

“This agreement demonstrates our 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 relationships with the communities where we operate,” he added.

“We look forward to the support of the state and local government as we seek to collaborate with relevant agencies to implement some of the developmental programmes cited in this Agreement, ” he said.

The plant director said that a governing structure would be set up for the implementation of the content of the agreement.

In his remarks, group head, social performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Wakeel Olayiwola, said the agreement followed the stipulated steps per CDA guideline as amended in 2023.

He said even though the year had almost come to an end, the company would kickstart the implementation of the content of the CDA, as it was committed to enjoying robust company-community relations.

The group head, health, safety, social, environment and sustainability, Dangote Industries Ltd (DIL), James Adenuga, said the company was a responsible corporate entity, adding that it was the right thing to do to smoothen its social license to operate.

General manager, social performance, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, Ademola Adeyemi, commended the Jakura community for being supportive and positive throughout the process of drafting the Agreement.

Minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake, said the government was proud of Dangote Cement for being a responsible corporate entity, urging the community to continue co-existing with the company peacefully.

The minister, who was represented by Bimbo Olaoye, said the government would continue to ensure that the company enjoyed smooth operations, while also creating jobs and implementing social programmes.

Speaking on behalf of the community, the Obaro of Jakura community, His Royal Highness (HRH) Usman Adoga, expressed delight over the signing of the agreement.

“This is a dream come true. Some of our people, who aspired to see this come true, are not alive. It is indeed a historic event, and the Jakura community will never be the same again,” he said.

In his remarks, the Olu of Apata, HRH, Frederick Balogun, described Aliko Dangote as “a God sent” to the community, promising that the communities would continue to be peaceful and support the company.

Representative of the chairman, Lokoja Local Government Area, Danjuma Abubakar, said the people of Kogi would continue to support the company for its numerous good interventions.

(NAN)