The Ogun State government has voiced its dissatisfaction with Dangote Cement for the purported demolition of Elefon Primary School in Ewekoro Local Government Area.
According to sources, the school was razed due to its location within the company’s mining area, sparking concerns among state officials.
During a Tuesday plenary session, Yusuf Amosun, an aggrieved member of the state House of Assembly representing Ewekoro constituency, raised alarms over the company’s actions.
Amosun asserted that Dangote Cement failed to inform any government agency before demolishing the school, citing the justification that it fell within their newly acquired mining jurisdiction.
Responding to the complaint, Speaker Olakunle Oluomo condemned the school’s demolition, prompting the House leader to establish an ad hoc Committee.
Chaired by Deputy Speaker Bolanle Ajayi, the committee, comprising Seun Adesanya, Lukmon Atobatele, and Sunday Wasiu as members, is tasked with engaging all concerned parties and reporting back to the Assembly.
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Confirming the incident, Commissioner for Education Abayomi Arigbabu revealed that the company had previously encroached on the school premises, but swift government intervention halted their actions.
Despite Governor Dapo Abiodun’s directive that the company “must not do anything within the school premises,” the commissioner expressed surprise at the subsequent demolition.
When questioned about the company’s mining license around the school, Arigbabu stated that the government was unaware of such a license, emphasizing the government’s ownership of the school as the reason for their initial intervention.
Efforts to obtain comments from Dangote Cement’s Special Duty and External Affairs Officer, Yomi Gbadebo, and Media and Communication Manager, Francis Brown, proved unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered.
Meanwhile, residents of the Elefon community are urgently appealing to the government to expedite the rebuilding of the school. #Ogun