A group, Yewa Defender Organization, has urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Environment to withhold issuance of licence to Dangote Cement Plc, over its proposed coal milling project at the Ibese plant in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The group noted that the giant cement manufacturing company, had failed to follow due process as regards the proposed project by not adhering to the provisions of Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) Act CAP E12 LFN 2004 requiring inputs from host communities.
The Chairman of the group, Mr. Temitope Amusan, at a press conference held in Ayetoro, on Friday, said the group suspect possible breach of the process, hence the need to raise alarm about it.
“Why did Dangote Cement management fail to observe due diligence and procedure in carrying out the initial public display of the EIA report of the proposed project in July 2022 by adequately informing stakeholders in the host communities?
“Why, since August 2022 and in spite of instructions by the Federal Ministry of Environment is the company unwilling to carry out fresh public display within 21 days and followed up by a Panel of Review of the report?
“Why is Dangote Cement Plc afraid of Panel Review of the EIA report?,” he said.
The group noted that the proposed coal milling project portends serious environmental hazards and grave health implications to the people of the host communities and by extension Yewaland.
The Corporate Affairs Unit Dangote Group promised to react to the position of the group, however, the reaction was not obtained at the time of filing this report.
Tribuneonlineng.com
