Nigerian Newsday

By Kajo Martins, Makurdi

Activities at Benue Cement Company PLC, Tsekucha Mbayion near Gboko were grounded to a halt penultimate week following protest by the host community over non provision of social amenities by the company.

The protesters, who barricaded the road leading to Makurdi also, accused the company’s management of lip service and neglect of its social responsibility to the people over the years.

One of the protesters, Mr. John Yandev Gbatar, told Nigerian Newsday in Gboko that since Dangote Group of companies took over the affairs of the company, it did not live up to its promises of provision of water, electricity and schools among others.

According to John Yandev Gbatar, "the management has also formed the habit of maltreating its temporary staff and sacking them at will without any good reason".

Governor Gabriel Suswam has however, waded into the crisis between BCC Plc and the host community. To this end, a meeting was held between the top management of the company, the representatives of the community and the members of the state security council at the instance of the governor.

Governor Suswam assured the host community that efforts were being made to provide them with electricity, dam, as well as scholarship to students of the area in tertiary institutions.

The governor who was represented by his special adviser on media and public affairs, Mr. Cletus Akwaya, said government would build classroom blocks in primary schools in the area as part of measures to address the problems of the host community.

The governor, while appealing to the people to be patient and allow for the implementation of the programme, however, warned that government will not allow criminal minded people to take the law into their hands in the guise of fighting for the community.

The governor then congratulated Mr. Samuel Ahua, on his appointment as general-manager, community relations of the BCC and expressed the hope that he will use his position to help improve relations between the company and the host community.