Dangote Cement refutes involvement in Kogi assembly fire outbreak
The management of Dangote Cement Plc has refuted claims of its involvement in the fire outbreak that happened at the Kogi State House of Assembly complex.
Earlier on Monday, WesternPost had reported that parts of the House of Assembly in Lokoja was gutted by fire and Dangote cement was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the complex on fire.
In a swift response, the Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina in a statement said: “Our attention has been drawn to a circulating Press Statement issued by the Kogi State Government, wherein the Dangote Group was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the Kogi State House of Assembly on fire in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022.
“The statement titled, ‘Obajana: Desperation sets in as imported hoodlums burn down Kogi Assembly’, which was signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo pointedly accused our company of burning the Complex ‘in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company.’
“As a socially responsible corporate entity, we totally refute this allegation and condemn this unprofessional and irresponsible attempt to smear our image before local and international investors and thus erode our brand value.
“Dangote Group would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property, belonging to either government or any individual. This runs contrary to our business ethos and everything we stand for as a leading manufacturer with teeming customers and consumers across Nigeria and Africa.
“Our lawyers have been mandated to react appropriately to the damaging allegation from the Kogi State government within the full extent of the law.”
He urged stakeholders and the public to disregard such “irresponsible and insane statement”, stressing that the management of Dangote asked stakeholders, namely shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and the entire community of Obajana and Kogi State at large to remain calm while following a legitimate and lawful process to resolve this matter with the state government.
