Dangote Cement Donates Electrical Materials to End 3-Year Blackout in Ogun Communities
By Patience Ikpeme
Celebrations erupted in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State as Dangote Cement, Ibese plant, donated multi-million Naira worth of electrical materials to restore power to 21 communities that had been without electricity for over three years.
In an exceptional act of social investment, the management of the Ibese Cement plant intervened to support the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) by providing all the necessary items to reconnect the affected communities to the national grid, driven by empathy for the residents who had endured a prolonged power outage.
Traditional rulers from the affected towns expressed gratitude to the Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote, for approving over N100 million for the procurement of the essential electrical materials. They received the items and subsequently handed them over to IBEDC officials.
Community leaders lauded the intervention by Dangote Cement Ibese Plant, which marks the second time the company has stepped in by providing electrical materials. They urged the IBEDC to expedite the power reconnection process, considering the plant’s generous donation. Responding to the community leaders’ pressure, the IBEDC assured that it would complete the reconnection of all affected communities within four to six weeks from the handover date.
Speaking during the handover of the electrical materials at the Ibese Police Station premises, Ibese Plant Director, Roy Uttam, stated that the donation was part of the cement plant management’s efforts to resolve the prolonged blackout in the affected towns and villages. He also advised the residents to ensure the protection of the newly installed electrical infrastructure.
Uttam pointed out that the Plant management had invested millions of Naira to purchase the electrical materials as a demonstration of good neighborliness. He remarked, “Otherwise, it should be the job of the IBEDC to provide the materials as a business venture that would be collecting money from the customers after reconnecting them.”
“The management of Dangote Cement Plc is donating the electrical materials to resolve the lingering power outage in the affected communities which have been in darkness for years due to vandalisation of cables and other installations by unscrupulous elements,” he added.
The Ibese Plant Director further explained that the decision to intervene stemmed from genuine concern for the people and a desire to help alleviate the negative impact of the outage on their socio-economic activities. He restated the cement company’s commitment to the sustainable development of its host communities and continued collaboration on initiatives aimed at the general wellbeing of the people. “We cherish living happily with our communities,” he said.
Traditional rulers from the affected communities, one after another, praised the Dangote Cement Ibese plant management for their efforts in ensuring the procurement and donation of all the promised electrical materials.
The Olu of Imasayi, Oba Lukman Kuoye, described the material donation as the result of positive engagements between the management of Ibese Plant and various interest groups, particularly the communities and the IBEDC, regarding a solution to the protracted blackout.
“We thank God that it is now a reality that we are on the way to getting reconnected to the national grid after over three years in darkness. We want to thank Dangote Cement Ibese Plant for this development. We are not taking this for granted.
“Dangote Cement is the only transformer that is illuminating the Yewa communities and Ogun State in general with its CSR projects. The management did not even consider the IBEDC’s inertia but still went ahead to donate materials that are supposed to be provided by the distribution company,” he enthused.
In his own remarks, the Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Mulero, thanked Dangote Cement and its Chairman, Aliko Dangote, for consistently rising to the occasion to assist the communities. He noted that the provision of the electrical materials would significantly strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the company and the communities.
The monarch assured that the communities would do everything possible to ensure the protection of the electricity infrastructure once installed and warned that vandals would no longer be tolerated.
The Member representing the Communities at the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adegoke Adeyanju, conveyed the appreciation of his constituents and the Ogun State House of Assembly to the management of Dangote Cement for assisting the people in addressing the long-standing blackout in the communities.
He stated, “I will report back to the Speaker and other House members that Dangote has fulfilled its promise since we previously invited them regarding this issue. We thank you, and let me also assure you that we will ensure that IBEDC plays its own part to provide our people with electricity.”
The executive members of the Ogun West District of the National Youth Council, who witnessed the donation, commended Dangote Cement for assisting the communities. They presented a letter of appreciation to the management of the cement Plant for their commendable gesture.
The President of the Youth Council for Ogun West, Kehinde Damilola, recalled how the Council members had planned to protest to the office of IBEDC over the persistent blackout but had postponed their action following promises from Dangote Cement to help provide the necessary materials.
Receiving the materials on behalf of the IBEDC management, Technical Engineer for the Sango Business Hub, Engr. Ayodeji Taiwo, thanked Dangote for the provisions. He assured the gathered stakeholders of swift action by the electricity distribution company to facilitate the quick reconnection of the communities within the agreed timelines.
