Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant, has paid a staggering N700 million tax to the Government of Benue State, the state Governor, Samuel has said.
Ortom disclosed this at the Dangote Cement’s commissioning and presentation of Tricycles in Gboko, where he equally confirmed that the tax sum was received
last week.
The tri-cycles and mini-depots Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project was presented to Benue communities by the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote who was represented by his Honorary Adviser, Joe Makoju at an event attended by the Governor of the State and government officials.
Dangote has scaled up its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes in the State.
He said without Dangote Group, there would have been a vacuum in the state’s economy.
He commended the company for creating direct and indirect jobs opportunities in the State and described the Dangote Group as a dependable partner.
“We are restricted by the downturn of the economy. The capacity to engage people by the government is no longer there. So this new Corporate Social Responsibility scheme is really commendable. The tri-cycles will facilitate movement and the cement depots will facilitate development and reduce hardship of travelling long distance before getting the product”.
“As your Governor I will not allow Dangote to shortchange you, neither will I allow you to sabotage his investment. We need to encourage them,” he said.
Other CSR projects by Dangote Cement in Benue State include: Electrification of villages at Masaje, Ipav, Gaando, Mbayion, Quarry Community, Igyula- Mbayion, Amua- Mbayion, Tsekutsa-Mbayion, some communities at Ukpekpe- Mbayion; procurement of 50 motor cycles on a revolving scheme basis and construction of 14 blocks of classrooms in different host communities in our operational area.
Others are: Construction of a bridge at Mkar, donation of N 15 million Naira to Yion Clan Foundation, construction of 21 boreholes in some communities of Mbayion, Yandev and Ipav (arrangements are already in place to reactivate non-functional ones) and procurement of four trucks of fertilizers on a revolving scheme to Mbayion Community.
Other projects also include: construction of a block of classrooms for the quarry Community, construction of examination hall at Mbatyula Progressive College, Tsekucha, the sum of N10 million is disbursed annually for Scholarship Grant to Mbayion Students in higher institutions of learning.
“We have vigilante contract with all our host communities which we are paying over N3 million monthly. We do engage some skilled and unskilled youths of the host communities in our employment as part of the Youth Economic empowerment programme,” a statement from the Dangote Cement said.
Speaking at the commissioning of Tri-cycles and Mini-depots CSR project in Gboko, Makoju said: “In keeping to our rules of engagement with host communities, which aims at transforming the lives of the people around our operational units, these schemes aim at empowering our host communities economically and socially.”
He said the new scheme will engage the youths in more productive ventures thereby eliminating idleness and criminality, and as well improve the economic power of benefiting communities and relations as well as enhance their living standards.
He called on the Benue State government to address the recently rapid rise in the number and rate of taxes and levies, saying it is stifling business.
“We are appealing to Your Excellency to please look into these issues with your able State House of Assembly with a view to lessening our tax burden,” he said.
Plant Director Jacinto Leyva Miranda said the company has done a lot and will continue in its bid to support its immediate communities.
Bem Angwe, former Executive Secretary National Human Rights Commission, said the Dangote Group should be commended for its CSR projects in Benue State, adding that the company should not rest on its oars in supporting his people.
