The former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has dismissed as deliberate mischief the claim by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, that his cement factory was demolished twice during his (Amosun) administration.
Dangote had, while revealing plans to reconstruct Itori Cement Plant and also return to Olokola Free Trade Zone (FTZ) to build the largest port in Ogun State, recounted how former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s administration obstructed work of Itori Cement Plant during his tenure.
He disclosed that he decided to go back and invest in Ogun State because of the Prince Dapo Abiodun administration’s vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting investors as well as the investor-friendly climate that exists in the state.
Dangote stated this on Monday during a courtesy visit to Governor Abiodun in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He described Ogun State as one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria, which he said had crafted itself as the manufacturing ‘bedrock’ of Nigeria.
He said: “I think we need to have it on record that the factory we are visiting now in Itori, it is because of His Excellency that we came back. That factory was demolished twice. We started building, then Amosun demolished it.
“The second time we restarted building, then he demolished not only the factory but also the fencing, so we left. But right now, with the coming of His Excellency, my brother, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are now back. If you go there, you will be very surprised.
Price war and hapless Nigerians
“We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of your policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say we are back and are going to work with the state government and return to Olokola and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country.”
Giving an update on the company’s ongoing projects in the state, Alhaji Dangote said two new lines of 6.0 million-metric-ton-per-annum cement plant had been constructed at Itori, while the 12-million-metric-ton-per annum cement plant is also domiciled at Ibeshe.
He commended Governor Abiodun, who he referred to as his good friend and brother, for his vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through immense support for the private sector which is now attracting investors.
On completion, the business mogul assured that the total capacity of the company’s cement plants in the state would be in the neighborhood of 18 million metric tons per annum, making it the highest cement-producing state or region in Africa.
“With the contributions of other cement producers in the state, Ogun remains far ahead of other countries across Africa in terms of cement production,” he said.
Dangote Cement, according to him, is the leading cement producer in Africa with 52.0-metric-ton-per-annum capacity across the African continent.
He added that 70 percent of the production is carried out in Nigeria with Obajana plant in Kogi State accounting for 16.25 metric tons per annum, the largest in Africa.
According to him, investment in the manufacturing of the product had made the nation self-sufficient in cement just as the country is now self-sufficient in fertilizer with the surplus going for the export market thus earning the nation the needed foreign exchange.
While noting that the company’s target is to make Nigeria sufficient in whatever it consumes, Dangote said the company is currently meeting domestic demand for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from its 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery at Ibeju- Lekki, as well as refined aviation fuel and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Nigeria, he said, is a growing economy, hence the need for private companies to complement government efforts, assuring that his company would continue to demonstrate its belief in the nation and its people to make investments targeted at transforming the nation’s economy.
He lauded the traditional rulers and people of Itoro for their support and show of partnership which enabled the smooth and speedy takeoff of the cement plant, adding that the encouragement from the people of Yewaland had engendered smooth operations, assuring of continued adherence to its Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities.
In quick response, Governor Abiodun described the day the Dangote Refinery groundbreaking was performed in Lagos as “the day of heartbreak for sons and daughters of Ogun State as they watched helplessly on the television,” saying it was an indication that the project had left Olokola.
He thanked Dangote for coming back to Ogun State and also for his belief and trust in Nigeria.
“I want to thank you for all that you have done, the number of people that you have employed, the impact you continue to make not just in this state but Nigeria as a whole.
“The way you selflessly continue to promote this country all over the world, we can’t thank you enough. Your life and story continue to be an inspiring narrative to all young men. You have excelled in everywhere you touch; you have the Midas touch.
“These are indeed giant strides. For us in Ogun State, we welcome your flight back into the state. Today is the day of history, March 17, 2025, the same March when you did the groundbreaking in Lagos of the refinery and you are now coming back in the month of March to Ogun State.
“Not only have you chosen to complete Itori, you have chosen to come back and develop the biggest port in Nigeria. For this, I thank you.”
The governor said that with the establishment of the Itori cement plant proposed to produce 6 million metric tons of cement per annum and the existing Ibeshe plant, producing 12 million tons, production in the state would total 18 million metric tons per annum, making it the largest cement producer in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
The governor lauded the company for not shirking on its Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities, just as it is currently constructing the Inter-change-Papalato-Ilaro road, assuring that his administration is ready to work with the company for the good of the state and the nation as a whole.
Amosun to Dangote: ‘Not all Nigerians can be bullied, blackmailed’
However, the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has dismissed as deliberate mischief the claim by Dangote that his cement factory was demolished twice during his (Amosun) administration.
In a statement entitled, ‘Re-Government Demolished My Cement Factory Twice’, signed by Lanre Akinwale, for Senator Ibikunle Amosun Media Office, the former governor challenged Dangote to “avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.”
Amosun noted that his government believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.
“However, while we will wait to hear from him, we will like to state that not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed. The notion that everyone has a price is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing.
“This is why some of us will continue to uphold high standards in all our undertakings, irrespective of whose ox is gored,” the statement said.
The former governor recalled that the same Dangote had during the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, “praised the Amosun administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.”
The statement reads in full: “We have just seen a footage in which the chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleged that his cement factory in Itori, Ogun State, was demolished twice while Senator Ibikunle Amosun served as governor.
“We assume that an average person understands how government functions through Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, with each exercising mandates on specific responsibilities, including approvals for physical development.
“It is on this basis that we want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished.
“This will, at least, help the public to put the issue in proper context and for us to know what exactly his grouse is.
“For us, as a government, we believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.
“It is important to note that at the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, Dangote praised the Amosun Administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.
“Dangote is just one of the many going concerns in Ogun State, and the Amosun administration is on record to have attracted over 500 companies to the state and was acknowledged by the World Bank as one of the top three states ensuring Ease-of-Doing-Business in Nigeria.
“Highlighted as one of the top reforming states in 2014, which marked a significant improvement from its previous rankings, the World Bank report attributed this progress to substantial reforms across multiple indicators like Construction Permits and Property Registration.
“It is also on record that during Senator Amosun’s administration, Ogun State became the ‘Industrial Capital’ of Nigeria. Our state at the time accounted for about 75 percent of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), in relation to industry in the country. This is a fact subject to verification.
“This recognition was further given fillip to by former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, when he visited Ogun State to commission multinational projects on five different occasions.
“Thus, while we will not give vent to this obvious mischief as it is deliberate, we will advise Alhaji Dangote to furnish the public with details of the land acquisition with relevant planning approvals, and let us engage in a constructive conversation therefrom.
“However, while we will wait to hear from him, we will like to state that not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed. The notion that everyone has a price is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing. This is why some of us will continue to uphold high standards in all our undertakings, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”
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