The House of Representatives and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have commended Dangote Coal Mines Limited for supporting the government by adding values to the live of Nigerians at the grassroots level through its multimillion-naira corporate social responsibility schemes in its host community.
They also applauded the company for adopting innovations that have positively impacted the rate of road crashes across the country.
Speaking at an Interactive Session involving the host communities of Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Safety Commission, Hon Akinfolarin Mayowa Samuel, said Dangote Group is a big player and a significant contributor to the development of the Nigerian economy.
While acknowledging the job-creating strides of the company, the lawmaker said there was a need for the company and the host community to always be on the same page in the implementation of the mutually consented Community Development Agreement(CDA).
Also speaking, a representative of the FRSC, Deputy Corps Marshal Kayode Fanola, commended Dangote Group for introducing measures that have helped reduce 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 standards,” Fanola said.
A representative of Dangote Transport, Mr. Charles Theophilus, in his remarks said FRSC officials are being involved in training and re-training of Dangote Drivers.
It would be recalled that early this year, the Dangote Cement Plc established a well-equipped Drivers Training School at Obajana in Kogi State.
Representative of the host community and Youth leader, Mr. Samuel Adejoh Ibrahim, told lawmakers at the session that the company was implementing the Community Development Agreement signed in July 2019.
The Youth leader said that solar-powered boreholes, bridge and road construction, and the construction of blocks of classrooms and a Clinic were some of the projects implemented by the company at the Awo Akpali community.
Leader of the Dangote delegation to the Interactive Session Alhaji Taslim Jimoh told the lawmaker and other guests at the event that Dangote Group is a law-abiding company,adding that compensation has been paid while other requirements needed for uninterrupted coal mining have been met.
Speaking at the Interactive session, the company’s Head of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), Mrs Ebere Okonkwo, said Dangote Cement Plc was reviewing its recruitment process and certification of drivers in collaboration with FRSC.