As part of plans to bolster its operational turf and ties among host communities, the Dangote Coal Ltd has commenced land reclamation and tree planting projects in Kogi and Benue states to scale up its Corporate Social Responsibility schemes
The company’s land reclamation and tree planting projects have made Nigeria’s foremost environmentally friendly company.
Businessday gathered that the coal company had disbursed scholarships to 20 students, in the two states, between May and August, this year.
The Company’s Head of mining operation in Benue, Dillip Taman, said the scholarship was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility of the company, adding that the company takes the plights of the host communities very seriously.
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“Earlier in the months of May and August this year, the Company disbursed scholarships to twenty indigenes of both Odoba and Effeche Communities who are currently undergoing studies in various fields in the Polytechnics and Universities.
“The scholarship scheme is implemented on a yearly basis at the beginning of each academic year,” Taman said.
It has also disbursed scholarship funds to students from Ankpa, Kogi State.
He said the company, which started its coal operation in Benue in April this year, is kick-starting several other projects contained in the Community Development Agreement(CDA).
In its Kogi operation, the company also installed solar-powered boreholes for the host communities and commenced drilling and casing of solar-powered boreholes in the communities around Benue, as part of its corporate social responsibility.
“The six boreholes in the Benue host communities are awaiting installation of pumps and overhead tanks. Approval has also been given for drilling of four more boreholes in the downstream Communities,”
The company said it is intervening in virtually all aspects of peoples’ lives, including helping in the electricity supply.
“At Effeche, the main mining Community, the Contractor has completed the erection of concrete poles as well as delivery of new transformer, cables, and other accessories,” it said.
It said these projects are slated for completion in the next few months.
Other projects/programmes slated for execution in the mining Communities where CDAs are signed by the Company include Construction and maintenance of roads; blocks of classrooms; clinics and provision of micro-credit schemes.
At the presentation of scholarship to students from Ankpa, the Onu of Ojukwu, Muhammad Ogbe who is the most senior traditional leader in Ankpa urged the communities to be peaceful and to support Dangote Coal, adding that the company was a blessing to his people.
