Dangote Cement, Jakura community sign CDA agreement

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

In a statement on Wednesday, the company noted that the agreement, signed on 17 September, is one of many such agreements with its host communities, which serve as pathways for transferring several impactful socio-economic development programmes and projects.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the CDA, the Plant Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, Azad Nawabuddin, said the pact is 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.

Mr Nawabuddin, represented by the Chief General Manager, Production, John Gwong, said the agreement demonstrates the company’s commitment to the development and overall well-being of the 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.

“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,” he said.

He noted that a governing structure will be set up for the implementation of the content of the agreement.

Also, speaking, 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 even though the year has almost come to an end, the company will kickstart the implementation of the content of the CDA, while assuring commitment to enjoying robust company-community relations.

The Group Head, Health, Safety, Social, Environment & Sustainability, Dangote Industries Ltd (DIL), James Adenuga, said the company is a responsible corporate entity, adding that it is the right thing to do to smooth the company’s social licence 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 citizen, urging the community to continue co-existing with the company peacefully.

Mr Alake, represented by Bimbo Olaoye, said the government will continue to ensure that the company enjoys smooth operational turf while creating jobs and implementing social programmes.

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

Speaking on behalf of his community, the Obaro of Jakura community, Usman Ajibola Adoga, said: “This is a dream come true. Some of us who aspire 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 commended Dangote Cement Plc for its unwavering interventions in several communities in Kogi State.

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

Representative of the Chairman of Lokoja Local Government Area, Danjuma Abubakar, said the people of Kogi will continue to be the ambassadors of Mr Dangote for his numerous interventions in their lives.