Ten Days After Closure, FG Ordered the Reopening of Dangote’s Largest Cement Factory

After the meeting held at Aso Rock, the Federal Government directed that Dangote Cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State, be reopened with immediate effect.

Dangote’s cement factory located in Obajana in Kogi State is the largest cement factory in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

Arising from a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, informed journalists that an agreement had been reached between the Dangote Group and the Kogi State Government on the need to reopen the factory while urging both parties to respect the agreement.

Investors King had earlier reported that the Kogi State Government sealed Dangote’s cement factory in Obajana due to a disagreement on ownership. 

The Kogi State House of Assembly had ordered the sealing of the factory following agitations by indigenes who raised questions about the ownership of the company.

The House of Assembly stated that an investigation into the company’s operations allegedly revealed that there was nothing much to show on the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the company by Dangote Group.

It also claimed that Dangote Group was invited to appear before the assembly, but its officials did not appear despite requesting for more time.

Similarly, Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, noted that the acquisition of Dangote Cement Factory in Obajana did not follow due process.

Before the acquisition of the cement factory, Kogi State Government owned more than 90 percent stake in the company.

On the other hand, Dangote Industries Limited, the parent company of Dangote Cement Plc released a statement which claimed that the acquisition of the company followed due process. 

The company insisted that Kogi State had no equity interest in Obajana Cement while noting that the plant and machinery were conceived and built by Dangote Industries Limited, well after it acquired the shares in Obajana Cement Company.

However, the Federal Government premised on the thousands of jobs that could be at risk if the cement factory was closed for too long. 

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said “the council (National Security Council) ordered the immediate reopening of the factory and advised that all issues in contention be resolved legally as the government was committed to providing employment”.