Benue State Governor,The Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom has confirmed that the Dangote Cement Plc, Gboko Plant, has paid the sum of N700 million tax to the Government of Benue State.
The Governor who spoke at the Dangote Cement’s commissioning and presentation of Tri-cycles in Gboko at the weekend, said that the tax was received last week.
Tri-cycles and mini-depots CSR project were presented to Benue communities by the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who was represented by his Honorary Adviser, Engineer Joseph Makoju.
The Governor promised to address the issue of tax rise and multiple taxations even as he admitted that without Dangote’s payment of the tax, the state would have been in financial mess.
Ortom described the Dangote Group as a dependable partner, commending it for creating direct and indirect jobs opportunities in the State.
“Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a great Nigerian whom God has endowed with wisdom to drive the economy through the private sector. This company is better off compared to when it was in the hands of government. If not for Dangote, BCC Gboko would have been occupied by rats and reptiles.
”Business environment is very harsh in Nigeria. So for this company to have been functioning, it’s really appreciating. It is clear that we have found a new way of working together.
“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.”
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 15million 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 (4) 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 Ten Million Naira (N10 million) is disbursed annually for Scholarship Grant to Mbayion Students in higher institutions of learning.
Speaking at the commissioning of Tri-cycles and Mini-depots CSR project in Gboko, Engineer 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 that 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 that the company is the largest employer of labour outside government in the state.
Plant Director, Jacinto Leyva Miranda said the company has done a lot and will continue in its bid to support its immediate communities.
A statement from the Group announced that the company has vigilante contract with all its host communities which is has been 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,” the statement added. [myad]
