BUA Group on Monday published an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari over some alleged activities of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi.
The letter, titled “A Cry for Help: Wanton Abuse of Power by a Serving Minister Geared at Sabotaging Operations of BUA Cement,” alleged that the minister, in collaboration with Dangote Group, is carrying out activities capable of undermining the peace and security around the BUA cement plant in Okpella, Edo State.
The letter stated that the minister had alleged that BUA Group is engaging in unlawful and illegal mining in Kogi State in site No. 2541ML.
The minister, through the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, had however issued a “stop work” order asking BUA to vacate and stop mining activities in its plant Obu-Okpella, Edo State.
The letter alleged that a private militia employed by Dangote Group, Dangote Cement’s Chief Security Officer, Ahmed Yabagi, youths in the Okpella area employed by Dangote Group, senior officials of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and high ranking police officers had at different instances entered the premises of the cement plant to disrupt activities.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development on the other hand has issued a press release addressing the allegations.
The press release stated that the ministry will stand by its stop work order, which BUA Group had used a combination of armed militia, soldiers and policemen to resist.
