A wave of jubilation swept through Gboko, Benue State, as Dangote Cement Plc and six host communities signed a historic Community Development Agreement (CDA).
The landmark accord signed yesterday, which commits Dangote Cement to multimillion-naira development initiatives, was celebrated as a transformative milestone. The communities pledged to uphold peaceful coexistence.
His Royal Highness, Ter Gboko, Gabriel Shosum, hailed the pact as the dawn of a new era, affirming that the communities’ longstanding aspirations had been realised.
The monarch extended gratitude to Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, for his commitment to addressing the needs of the host communities while urging local leaders to sustain peace and harmony to support the company’s operations.
Mrs Bimbo Sariat Olawoye, representing the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, expressed pride in the achievement and called for collective efforts to ensure the full implementation of the CDA.
Hon. Elias T. Yina, Executive Chairman of Gboko Local Government, described the agreement as unparalleled in its over 40-year history, highlighting its potential to benefit the local government and the State.
Plant Director, DCP Gboko, Louis K Raj, said the CDA‘s achievement is a result of the support from the Benue State government, the Gboko Local Government, community leaders, and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, among other stakeholders.
The Plant Director added: “This vital occasion marks the beginning of concrete infrastructural development and social support in education, improved access to healthcare, and economic empowerment programs targeted at youths, women‘s groups, and the farming population. The company’s social investment will also facilitate improved access to potable water, electrification and power supply to the host communities, among other things.
“The Gboko Plant’s CDA also provides scholarship grants for students in secondary and tertiary institutions to promote excellence in educational pursuits of indigent students from our host communities.”
The Head of Social Performance, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, described the signing of the CDA as historic and key to implementing key projects in the host communities.
He said the CDA provides interventions covering five years of infrastructural and educational development.
In his remarks, Prince Yandev Amaabai, the President General of the Jemgbash Development Association, urged the communities to be peaceful and eschew violence.
“Dangote has provided us jobs and now is supporting us as a people. We must support him and be peaceful,” he said.
The agreement was signed with six host communities: Tse-kucha (Mbatyula), Quarry, Amua(Mbakper), Mbazembe, Mbatur and Pass Brothers.
