Attah Ede, Makurdi
Group of youths under the auspices of Benue Youth Alliance for Good Governance(BYAGG), on Thursday, warned Benue State Government and other authorities to stop imposing multiple taxations on Dangote Cement company with the aim of frustrating the company to leave the State.
Recall that Dangote Cement PLC, has one of its plants at Tse-Kucha, Gboko Local Government of the State and its business outlets has highest employer of labour in the State after the federal, state and local governments.
The group issued the warning in a statement by the national President, John Yiye and the secretary, Solomon Oche on Thursday.
The group alleged alleged that , the present administration has perfected plans to use multiple taxation, including those not currently enforced in the State to frustrate the operations of Dangote Cement PLC.
They further alleged that previous administration used same tactics and frustrated an agro-commodities company, Olam Nigeria Limited, to moved the largest rice farm in Africa from Benue to nearby Nassarawa State.
Yiye and Oche said that they would resist any attempt to frustrate the Dangote Cement company to leave the State.
“We have been reliably informed that government intends to also use the thugs recruited under the guise of Benue State Central Youths to harass staff of the company, demanding for “matching ground” and other illegal levies.
“Disturbed by the discovery, we decided to investigate the reasons for the decision to frustrate Dangote out of Benue State.
“We were further shocked when we got to discover that, the plan against Dangote is to pave way for an influential pubic figure to acquire the cement company through a proxy.
“We shall expose this proxy when the need arises. We have taken a careful look at the planned action against Dangote and we have arrived at the conclusion that it is not in the interest of Benue State.
“We are all aware of the contribution of Dangote to the economy and well being of Benue citizens. For the records, Dangote is the highest tax payer in Benue State, thereby contributing significantly to the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) of Benue State.
“Dangote Cement PLC has awarded scholarship to students from not just the host community of Mbayion, but even those from other communities in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, studying in tertiary institutions across the country.
“In the area of health,the company has also contributed significantly to communities in the state. Currently, the company has built a hospital at Ihungwa-Nor, Mbatiav, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State that is currently awaiting commissioning.
“Dangote Cement Plant in Gboko has provided direct and indirect jobs to indigenes of Benue State. Sending Dangote away will lead to job losses and increase the percentage of unemployed people in the state, which will further worsen the insecurity in the state which the Alia administration is clueless on how to confront”, the statement said.
The group therefore called on all indigenes of the State and all lovers of the State to rise and condemn the plot to frustrate Dangote out of Benue State.
