Ijebu Igbo Youth Protest against Dangote Cement Plc for Killing Their People

Abeokuta: Sina ODUNTAN

Published, January 10, 2021

THE IJEBU IGBO YOUTH who began peaceful protests last Friday have vowed to remain on streets until Dangote Cement Plc leaves their town or entre into another five year-term of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The youth who carried placards with various inscriptions were not only protesting against the company for incesant truck killings, they were also protesting against some individuals in the town who are benefiting from the ill treatment the company has been meted out to them.

The youth said the rate at which Dangote trailers that often ply Alafia, Sopin-Osun Road in Ijebu Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State has become unbearable, saying the protest was to call the attention of the Ogun State government to their aid.

Surprisingly, some powerful individuals in the town who initially signed a 5-year MOU with Dangote Cement Plc are threatening to unleash mayhems on the town's youth for daring to protest against the company.

The President-General of the Congress of Ijebu Igbo Youth, Mr. Adesanya Arowolo Sakirudeen, who addressed reporters said their protest was to show to the world the menace that Dangote Cement Plc has become and expose the recklessness of the company's trailers and articulated trucks drivers that they might stop killing our people.

Mr.Adesanya Arowolo Ṣakirudeen  also said there has been an MOU between the town and Dangote Cement Plc. Those who represented Ijebu Igbo five years ago represented themselves and not the Ijebu Igbo community. They were those who loathed the present youth protest.

He said those people were non-indigines of Ijebu Igbo, That was why that the content of the MOU did not include the developmental provisions. There was no provision for maintenance of the roads the trucks ply everyday.

According to the President-General the MOU would be due for renewal by May this year. He said the youth have decided to cry out before the selfish, greedy individuals entre into another five years agreement on behalf of Ijebu Igbo with Dangote Cement Plc again, saying the expiring agreement has not benefited their community

He said the new MOU must include provisions for the community development, maintenance of roads they ply always, waste management, and health care service for aged and vulnerable as a result of environmental pollution engenders by the activities of the company in the area.

"For example, the road which was made during the time of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the Premier of Western Region that was still serving them before the coming of Dangote trucks has been destroyed by Dangote trucks.

"It was a major road to various farmlands of the people. Farming is the main occupation of the people. Many people have developed lung diseases as a result of the dust our people are daily consuming, the youth President lamented.

Adesanya posited that Dangote Cement Plc should entre into another five year-term of Memorandum of Understanding with the leaders and elders of Ijebu Igbo and not with strangers who exploited the people's ignorance initially.

He lamented that Dangote Cement Plc has refused to consider several complaints that the youth organisation had written in the past. He said the company had had several meetings with them, everything was futile.

Pointing out that there was a meeting last August which was attended by both our elders and the company's representatives, Adesanya said none of the agreements was implemented by the company. 

He said the company and its representatives should hold a meaningful dialogue with the Ijebu Igbo community to resolve all their grievances.

Hon. Sefiu Ogunleye also spoke to our reporter that the protest was overdue because the community leaders have failed the people, saying the protest was to draw attention to their sufferings and Dangote Cement Plc ill treatment of their people.

.He said the establishment of a community should be a blessing and not a curse. But the presence of Dangote trucks in Ijebu Igbo has been a nightmare, because all their expectations have been dashed.

Ms. Omolola Onasanya, who represented the female voice in the protest said they are not happy with Dangote Cement Plc. 

She said its trailers kill their people all the times without compensation, adding that as long as Dangote Cement Plc would not be humane and not bring development to their community the youth of Ijebu Igbo would not want its trucks and trailers in their town again.