FG Overrides Bello, Orders Immediate Reopening Of Obajana Cement Plant 

THE Federal Government, on Friday, October 14, ordered the reopening of the Obajana Cement plant shut down by the Kogi State House of Assembly last week.

  This was part of decisions arrived at during the National Security Council meeting in Abuja.

  The council also advised that all that issues in contention be resolved legally, adding that the government’s commitment to providing employment was not negotiable.

  The Kogi State House of Assembly last week ordered the closure of the plant owned by the Dangote Group until the issue surrounding its ownership was resolved.

  The state government had insisted that available documents showed the plant belonged to it, a claim dismissed by the Dangote Group, which claimed that the government had no stake whatsoever in the plant and was not entitled to any dividend in the company.

  This was disclosed by the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, joined by his Interior counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor, who briefed journalists after the meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja and presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  Aregbesola explained that an agreement had been reached between Kogi State Government and Dangote Group on the need to reopen the cement factory, urging both parties to respect the agreement.

  He added that the council ordered immediate reopening of the factory and advised that all issues in contention be resolved legally as government was committed to providing employment.

  He stated that no state had been authorised to acquire automatic rifles and urged that due process be followed.