Following recent altercations between the authorities and the company, the Kogi State Government has shut the Obajana Cement Factory, now known as Dangote Cement Plc, located in the state.
The cement factory is generally known to be owned by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Kano-born President of Dangote Group and Richest Man in Africa.
The Kogi State Government hitherto, among other issues, had demanded 10 percent in the business activities of the company in Kogi State, the demand to which the company has reportedly not acceded over time.
A staff of the company at Obajana, in Kogi State, who did not want his name mentioned, Wednesday, October 5, 2022, also confirmed the shut down of the cement plant to this publication.
He, however, disclosed that the state authorities and the Management of the Dangote Cement Plc were making efforts at resolving the problem.
Phone calls to Dangote Group Headquaters, in Lagos, to confirm the development in Kogi State were also not answered as of the time of filing this report.
This latest development between the state and Dangote Cement indicates that running battle between Kogi State House of Assembly and Dangote Cement company seems to be getting hotter as the House of Assembly on behalf of Kogi State Government has asked for the 10 percent shares from the investment.
It was learnt that the state lawmakers insisted the 10 percent shares being demanded from the representatives of Dangote Cement belong to the state government.
The legislators also alleged that all available documents showed that the company started as “Obajana Cement Company”, and asked at what point did it turn into “Dangote Cement Company” without any considerations.
Besides, Dangote Cement is reportedly facing allegations of sharp practice from Kogi State Government, Kogi State Assembly as well as Akwa Ibom State, in South -South Nigeria.
It is recalled that the Kogi State House of Assembly recently, ordered stoppage to the business activities of the company in two Local Governments Areas in the State while investigations continue.
In order to press home its claim, the State House of Assembly had ordered the Management of Dangote Cement to provide all necessary documents in connection with the transfer of Obajana Cement Company, owned by Kogi State Government to Dangote Cement Company.
The House also directed that the documents signed at the establishment of the company and relevant receipts of dues it claimed to have paid to Kogi State Government Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) available at the next adjourned sitting date.