The youths in host communities of Dangote cement, Obajana, have staged a peaceful protest accusing the company of negligence and exploitation without compensation.
The angry youths from Zariagi, Kabba junction and Obajana communities who gathered in their hundreds, held a peaceful protest on Tuesday at Kabba junction along Lokoja- Obajana road.
Speaking to newsmen during the protest, Abubakar Ahmed, the Youth Chairman, said Dangote had been exploiting their resources to the detriment of the host communities without given anything back in return.
”Our people are suffering, we are dying of pollution, no good healthcare and water facilities, no job, no youth and women empowerment programmes.
”Dangote trucks are killing our people and destroying our roads, we can no longer endure it; enough is enough of Dangote exploitation in Kogi.
He expressed their full support for Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello and Kogi House of Assembly for their current action against Dangote, saying, ”Kogi youths are tired of Dangote Group exploitation in the state”.
He stressed that a bag of Dangote cement was being sold at N4200 in Kogi, while it was sold at N3200 in Kano, saying, ”we can no longer take it”.
On her part, the Women leader, Salamat Yusuf, said their people were suffering without any support or benefits from Dangote.
”We are in support of our Governor because he knows what we need. We appreciate him for fighting for us and the entire people of Kogi State,” Yusuf said.
Also speaking, Students leader, Comrade Bello Abdulrazak, said their grievance was that since when Obajana was changed to Dangote cement, their people had been suffering.
”Dangote trailers have destroyed our roads without repairs, they have been killing our students without any compensation, no scholarship for students.
”We are appealing to the State Government to fight for our interest so that we can get what rightfully belong to us as host communities and as a State,” Abdulrazak said.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as: ”Say no to Dangote Group exploitation”, ”Return our Cement Factory”, ”Our Roads are destroyed by Dangote truck”.
Others were: ”We stand with GYB”, ”Dangote must go”, ”Our cement Na N4200 in Kogi, and N3200 for Kano”, ”No More Slavery in Kogi, ”Kogi Youths are tired of Dangote”, ”No more slavery in Kogi”, among others.
