There were huge scenes of jubilation among affected host communities following the federal government’s order for the immediate reopening of the Dangote Cement Plc plant at Obajana in Kogi State.
Members of the host communities from Iwaa, Oyo, Obajana, and Apata, who spoke to newsmen said, they could now heave a sigh of relief as the consequences of shutting down the factory were better imagined than described, a situation which was worsened with the recent ASUU strike that kept students at home across the country.
The National Security Council (NSC), chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, had directed the reopening of the cement plant, after raising concerns about job losses, potential increase in criminality and resultant unemployment in the area and the State due to the shutdown.
Minister of interior, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola said, an agreement had been reached between the Dangote Group and the Kogi State government on the need to reopen the factory, urging both parties to respect the agreement.
Reacting to the latest directive, Secretary of the Association of Fresh Fish Dealers at the Obajana market, Mrs. Lola Adinu, said, “The association members were overjoyed when the news came that the federal government had ordered the reopening of the factory.”
Mallam Bala Dreba, a 50-year-old commercial motorist plying the 43km concrete Obajana-Kabba road that was constructed by Dangote Industries Limited, said travellers from the South and from the north were apprehensive about the security of the road and its environs since the recent invasion of the company by government vigilantes.
Dreba said the road is now the most important road network linking the Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria.
Commercial motorcyclists were seen cruising in different directions on Friday evening and Saturday morning to celebrate the announcement by the federal government.
Adamu Ibrahim, a 45-year-old commercial motorcyclist, and father of four lamented that commercial activities had been paralysed after the invasion of the plant by thugs. He expressed joy that the situation is now reverting to the usual economic bustle in Obajana.
A community leader, Pa Isaac Ade, said the federal government’s announcement was welcomed with jubilation in his neighbourhood because the lives and the livelihood of the host communities revolve around Dangote Cement Plc.
“Without this company, the communities cannot survive, the markets cannot survive, the commercial motorcyclists cannot survive, and if I may add, this local government and the state, in general, will be badly affected,” Ade said.
Dangote Cement is the biggest taxpayer and employer of labour in Kogi State. The conglomerate is a part of the Dangote Industries Limited, which is also the second largest employer of labour in Nigeria after the government, as well as the highest private-sector taxpayer to the federal government.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Shareholders Associations in Nigeria, had all berated the Kogi State government over the invasion and the closure of the cement company.
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