Nigeria’s organized Private Sector (OPS) has expressed outrage at the recent invasion of the Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant in Kogi State. The OPS was shocked at what it saw as the willful conduct that plays up the fragile nature of doing business in Nigeria. 

According to a statement issued and signed by the Group Managing Director of the company, Mr. Michel Puchercos, the Obajana Plant was invaded by armed vigilantes on the orders of the state government.

The vigilantes were led by the state Director-General of Lands; Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd), Chairman of Kabba/Bunnu LGA, Chairman of Ijumu LGA and the State ALGON Chairman, Alh. Taofeek; Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation, Mr. Dele Iselewa and Chairman of Lokoja LGA, Alh. Mohammed Dansabe who were apparently acting on a resolution of the Kogi state House of Assembly on controversial tax claims; claims that the state governor had also contradicted when he said the shutdown was due to an alleged invalid acquisition of the company by Dangote Industries Limited.

In the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shot at 27 of Dangote Cement workers and destroyed some of the company’s plant property.

The Call for Truce: LCCI, MAN Condemn Invasion

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has condemned the attack on Dangote Cement Plant. 

The Chamber in a statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Chinyere Almona, FCA said, the attack reflects the poor handling of investment protection issues in our country.

The LCCI believes there are more decent ways to handle regulatory and legislative matters concerning businesses in Nigeria than resorting to violence.

Similarly, The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) also strongly condemned the invasion of Dangote Cement Plant on by the state’s security outfit, noting that such action will discourage new investments in the State.

The president, MAN, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, said the action by Kogi State is of great concern, and added that it is unimaginable that a state government would take such drastic action to shut down a plant that provides job opportunities and economic activities on a huge scale for the people of Kogi State.

National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) urges truce on the matter and regret the recent development by the State Government.

Below are the official releases from the various associations

MAN Leads Private Sector Call for Restraint

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has criticized the invasion of Dangote Cement Plant on Wednesday by the Kogi state’s security outfit, the Vigilantes, on the order of the State Governor, Yahaya Bello, noting that such action would discourage new investments into the State.

The president, MAN, Engr. Mansur Ahmed, at a press conference to herald its 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled to hold on 17-19, October, 2022, said the action by Kogi State is of great concern, and added that it is unimaginable that a State government would take such drastic action to shut down a plant that provides job opportunities and economic activities on a huge scale for the people of Kogi State.

“The action appears to be taken by government and it is alleged to be an effort for some alleged claim on some alleged payment of taxes that have not been made or recovered from the company,” Ahmed said.

He added that the move is totally illegitimate, pointing out that if the State government has any issue against any member of its association or corporate citizen, the appropriate thing to do is to take the member to court.

“You cannot use strong-arm tactics to shut them down or impose very severe restrictions on their operations simply to force them. This is illegal and I believe that what has happened will not happen in a normal operating environment,” the MAN boss said.

He said the association has taken up the matter with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in its bid to help address the anomaly in Kogi State.

“We have no reason not to pay taxes to the Kogi State government as and when due and I am aware that Dangote Industries is one of the highest tax-payers in Nigeria. But, if indeed for whatever reason that there is a tax for the Kogi State government on Dangote, it has measures and ways of recovery and there is no justification to threaten the closure of that industry. 

“We are totally opposed to that kind of measure because there are ways to resolve this amicably in a legal manner and we hope that the relevant authorities in both the federal and state levels would intervene to ensure that this kind of action is not repeated,” he said.

He however, stated that the theme of the 50th AGM tagged “An Agenda for Nigeria’s Industrialisation for the Next Decade” is borne out of the need to take stock of the naton’s journey to industrialisation, to ascertain the pains and to highlight the performance limiters; recognise the gains and growth milestones; and to identify the learning curves and hurdles ahead. 

He added that over the years, the performance of the manufacturing sector has been constrained by numerous familiar challenges that are clearly espoused in its numerous presentations and submissions to the government. 

Ahmed said it is a matter of great concern to its members that even as the economy continues to experience very slow growth, policymakers at all levels continue to compound the situation by introducing new taxes; further worsening the difficult and high-cost operating environment. 

“In some climes, when the economy slows down, the government reduces taxes to encourage businesses to expand, create more jobs and increase economic activities. What we are seeing in Nigeria today is not only increasing tax rates but introducing new taxes and turning every public agency into a revenue collector. Amid the challenges, we are resilient and would soldier on with advocacy for a conducive atmosphere for the operation of the manufacturing business in Nigeria. We will continue to work towards ensuring that Nigeria becomes an environment that promotes competitiveness,” Ahmed averred.

Also speaking, the Director General, MAN, Segun Ajayi Kadir, said the 50th AGM is special because manufacturers have survived the turbulence both domestically and internationally, stressing that the last few years for manufacturing have experienced external factors largely out of its control impacting negatively on the economy.

Reacting to the federal government’s plan to impose excise duty on non-alcoholic drinks, Kadir said this is the wrong time to have it done.

“What is most painful is that the increase in excise on new products only started this year, so it will amount to changing the goalpost in the middle of the game. We have a three-year plan for the escalation of excise duty; all that was thrown into the dustbin and a new and higher one was introduced and targeted at killing the industry. This should be rescinded immediately and that is the only way this sector can survive,” he said.

NACCIMA Urges Truce on Obajana Dangote Cement Seal Matter

The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) regrets the recent development by the Kogi State Government which has resulted in the hasty sealing of the Dangote Cement Factory at Obajana, Kogi State.

This action, allegedly stemming principally from tax disputes, we believe, could have surely been resolved on a more conciliatory and amicable note.

This view is based on some key considerations as outlined below:

We thus suggest that the company be reopened as quickly as possible to enable it to continue its operation and fulfill its necessary responsibilities, not just on tax but also keep the hundreds of thousands of Nigerians in its direct and indirect employment dutifully engaged and, furthermore, sustain its crucial services, not just to the people & government of Kogi State but Nigeria in general.