Kogi NYCN calls on Dangote to execute projects in EO7, address 10% hosting rights, tax liability, CSR to youths »

Press Statement

A CALL ON THE MANAGEMENT OF DANGOTE CEMENT INDUSTRY TO ADHERE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 7 ON THE EXECUTION OF 5 ROAD PROJECTS IN KOGI STATE, THE NEED TO ADDRESS 10% HOSTING RIGHTS AND COOPERATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO KOGI YOUTH, MATTER OF URGENT ATTENTION TO CLEAR OUTSTANDING TAX WITH KOGI STATE BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE AND A TOTAL CONDEMNATION ON THE ATTACK ON STAFF OF KOGI STATE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICES BY THE MANAGEMENT OF DANGOTE CEMENT FACTORY, OBAJANA

In line with the Executive Order 007, 2019, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit scheme, Dangote Industries, 5 others have been mandated to execute 19 road Projects in 11 States across the country.

Interestingly, Dangote Companies is to execute five road Projects in Kogi State which include the Obajana to Kabba road, Crusher to Zone 8 junction and Ganaja Junction to Ganaja Village amongst other roads.

However, Dangote Companies has only successfully completed one of these roads; The Obajana to Kabba, therefore leaving other roads with no actions that shows its readiness to commence work any time soon. To say the least, this is totally unacceptable by Kogi Youths as dilapidated condition of these roads not attended to goes to the root of many issues ranging from accidents, robbery and road users inconvenience even though it doesn’t also exclude poor transportation network of producers of perishable agricultural produce from urban areas to the capital of Kogi State; Lokoja.

The need to address this becomes pertinent as we refuse to continue wallowing in abject inconvenience even though our state is indeed the number one major producer of raw materials the Dangote Cement Industry is using to serve the world in sufficient quantity and quality of Cement.

The eyesore condition of these roads is not far from the junks of heavy load majorly carried by the Dangote Cement Trucks which leaves the roads cracked and unbearable for cars and less heavy duty trucks users. We are calling on the management of Dangote Companies to adhere to the Executive Order 007 to quickly commence actions to fixing these roads in order to ease the affairs of road users and help reduce life threatening risks faced by innocent road users on these dilapidated roads.

Furthermore, the need for Dangote Cement Industry to implement the 10% Hosting Right and Cooperate Social Responsibility to Kogi Youth becomes a necessity that must not be taken with levity; it must be treated with urgency by the management. The patience on the part of Kogi Youths must not be taken for granted by the management of Dangote Cement Industry, located at Obajana, Kogi State.

We have gathered that the abuse on our rights even as host Community is not being given to us by the management. The portion of manpower employment of Youths who are indigenes of Obajana Community and Kogites in general is way below average and this leaves us on the worry note. The Youths are by this statement, making it clear that the implementation of the 10% Hosting Right and Cooperate Social Responsibility to Kogi Youth be attended to with immediate effect.

In addition, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Kogi State Chapter, condemns in its totality the attack on the staffers of Kogi State Internal Revenue Services by the management of Dangote Cement Industry few days ago at Obajana over the company’s inability to clear off its taxes debts and the staffers of the Revenue with court order to seal off the company.

Information reliable gathered by the council reveals the following as outstanding against the Dangote Cement PLC;

Ayoki Fabricon: N1.38 Billion
Sinoma (O&M): N1.25 Billion
Social Service Contribution Levy (Cooperate) 2019-2020 =N50 Million
Social Service Contribution Levy (Individual) 2019-2020 =N32 Million
Economic Development Levy manufacturing Industrial N20 Per 50Kg (2017-2020) = N2.6 Billion
Haulage fees (September, October and November) approximately N90-95 Million

The above facts made available is a revelation that Dangote Cement Industry is of course greatly indebted and should take necessary steps in clearing their debts through the State Internal Revenue Services.

It will be unfair to say that the government of Kogi State haven’t been a good host to Dangote Cement and many other businesses in the State. Therefore, the company needs to do more in justifying the billions of Naira realized there on monthly basis. The actions of the management of Dangote Cement Industry to attack and destroy vehicles of the staff of the Revenue Services is totally unacceptable and is heavily condemned by the council. This act alone portrays irresponsibility on the part of the management of Dangote Cement PLC.

As a business Organization, Cement Industry should know that Tax is compulsory and for no reason should they avoid paying their taxes. The attack did not only left Government owned vehicle destroyed, but it further threatened the lives of every staff of the Revenue Services who went to the Industry not on their own will but on an official assignment even with Court injunction that ordered for the sealing of the company.

Having stated the above, the council is calling in the management of Dangote Cement PLC to make payment of their taxes to the Kogi State Internal Revenue Services as well as attend to other needs mentioned in this Press Statements.

Failure of the management within two weeks of this publication to take necessary steps in addressing all of these salient points, is capable of attracting peaceful protest, legal actions from the end of the Council and this may not be juicy as it will not be considered business as usual.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Signed:
Israel Femi Alonge,
Chairman,
National Youth Council of Nigeria,
Kogi State Chapter.
08032220217
7th December, 2020.

Cc;
Secretary To The Government of Kogi State

Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor

Commissioner of Youth and Sport Development

Special Adviser on Youth and Student

Kogi State Internal Revenue Services

Commissioner of Police

Department of State Security Service