Former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has called on business mogul Aliko Dangote to provide evidence of government approval for his demolished cement factories in the state. Amosun’s response came after Dangote accused his administration of twice demolishing an $800 million cement plant in Itori, Ogun State, causing significant setbacks to the project.
In a statement issued by Amosun’s media aide, Lanre Akinwale, on Monday, the former governor rejected Dangote’s claims. He stated that the demolitions were carried out by the appropriate government ministry because Dangote Group allegedly proceeded with construction without proper authorization.
The statement read: “We have just seen footage in which the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleged that his cement factory in Itori, Ogun State, was demolished twice while Senator Ibikunle Amosun served as governor.
“We assume that an average person understands how government functions through Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, with each exercising mandates on specific responsibilities, including approvals for physical development.
“It is on this basis that we want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished. This will, at least, help the public to put the issue in proper context and for us to know what exactly his grouse is.”
Akinwale added that there couldn’t have been two governments in the state and “Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.”
He recalled that Dangote “praised the Amosun administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.
“Dangote is just one of the many concerns in Ogun State, and the Amosun administration is on record to have attracted over 500 companies to the state and was acknowledged by the World Bank as one of the top three states ensuring Ease-of-Doing-Business in Nigeria.”
