NASS, FRSC Laud Dangote Coal Over CSR, Road Safety In Kogi

BY EDMOND ODOK –The House of Representatives and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have praised Dangote Coal Mines Limited for its multi-million Naira social schemes and innovations that have positively impacted the rate of auto crashes in the country.

According to the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission, Hon Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, the Dangote Group is a big player, whose significant contributions to Nigeria’s economic development cannot be ignored.

Speaking at an Interaction session involving the host communities of Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Hon Samuel also affirmed the job-creating strides of the company that has brought succour to many Nigerians.

The lawmaker however charged the company and the host communities to always collaborate and walk the same path in implementing mutually consented Community Development Agreement (CDA).

Also addressing the forum, a FRSC representative, Deputy Corps Marshal, Kayode Fanola, applauded the Dangote Group for introducing measures that have helped in checking the rate of road accidents in the country.

“I can tell you that we have inspected the facilities at the Dangote Drivers School at Obajana, and they met our standard,” Mr Fanola said.

On his part, a representative of the host community and Youth leader, Mr. Samuel Adejoh Ibrahim, expressed happiness that the outfit has been implementing the CDA signed in July 2019.

He informed the session that solar-powered boreholes, bridge and road construction, and the construction of blocks of classrooms and a Clinic were among the projects implemented by the company at the Awo Akpali community.

In his remarks, Alhaji Taslim Jimoh, who led the Dangote Group delegation to the Interactive Session, described the Company as a law-abiding entity that continues to live up to its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

He said aside from paying compensation as contained in the CDA, other requirements needed for coal mining activities in the area have been met by the Company.

Further amplifying the responsiveness of the Dangote Group to its CSR, the company’s Head of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Mrs. Ebere Okonkwo, disclosed that the Dangote Cement Plc was currently reviewing its recruitment process and certification of drivers in collaboration with FRSC.

In the same vein, a representative of Dangote Transport, Mr. Charles Theophilus, said the FRSC officials were involved in training the company’s drivers.

Recalled that as part of efforts to make its drivers road safety compliant, the Dangote Cement Plc had early this year established a well-equipped Driving School at Obajana in Kogi State.