But for Hon. Yusuf Amosun’s timeous notice on the floor of Ogun State House of Assembly and the State Government’s prompt intervention, Dangote Cement, by now, would have completely demolished Elefon Primary School, without due approval, for purportedly standing on its supposed vast mining site in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state.
Abayomi Arigbabu, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology confirmed the intervention earlier this week.
Hon. Amosun raised this issue of urgent importance that Dangote Cement had already demolished the school to access mineral resources below the ground without proper notice or approvals. However , the act by Dangote Cement prompted serious condemnation from the Speaker of the Assembly.
Arigbabu confirmed that Dangote Cement had started obstructing the school premises in preceding weeks, prompting Governor Dapo Abiodun to swiftly order the company to cease any activities on the property.
Arigbabu further reiterated that Dangote Cement’s condemnable act is done without requesting and obtaining due approval before embarking on such demolition.
“The school belongs to the government. That is why we stopped them when we heard of it,” he affirmed.
Attempts by Theliberationnews to get Dangote Cement’s side proved abortive as calls to its spokesperson, Prince Yomi Gbadebo were not returned.
However, Ogun Education Ministry deservedly remains adamant that Elefon Primary School must stay protected, posing a new hurdle to Dangote Cement’s mining plans in the area. The stand-off, obviously underscores rising tensions between commercial interests and local communities in Ogun State.
