The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, has pledged the commitment of the House to give legislative backing and support to the Dangote Sugar Refinery to operate in the state without hitches.
He gave the assurance when he led other principal officers of the Assembly on an assessment visit to the Dangote Sugar Refinery, Tunga in Awe Local Government Area of the state.
The speaker was optimistic that should the legislative framework be granted to the company, it would enhance the economic and security status of the state, adding that the benefits accruing to the state as result of the refinery were enormous.
Balarabe-Abdullahi, who said the visit was to see things for themselves, appreciated Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group, for establishing the refinery in the state.
“We appreciate Alhaji Aliko Dangote for this project in our state, as this project is a pride to Tunga, Nasarawa State, Nigeria and indeed Africa as a whole,” the speaker said.
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“The project will tackle unemployment, thereby putting our unemployed youths and other people off the street, as it will also improve on the standard of living of the people of the state and Nigeria at large.
“Apart from the economic benefits, the project will also boost the security of the state as before now, this place was a thick forest and hidden place where criminals would go out and perpetrate their criminal act, come back and hide.
“But now, since the Dangote company made themselves known in the state, there is no hiding place for them [the criminals] here (Tunga) again,” he said.
Balarabe-Abdullahi, therefore, commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for ensuring that the project is a reality for the overall benefit of the people.
“I also want to commend the host community, Tunga, Awe Local Government for supporting the establishment of the refinery in their communities and I call for their continued support to enable the project to succeed.
“We will protect the project and ensure that all pending lands and boundary demarcation issues are addressed peacefully.
“I also appreciate the corporate social responsibility projects of the company to the host community, which cut across school and health, water and scholarship, among other projects,” he added.
Bello Abdullahi Danmusa, general manager, government and strategic relations, Dangote Industries Ltd, who briefed the lawmakers on the company’s journey so far, appreciated the speaker and his entourage for the visit.
Danmusa reckoned that the visit would further strengthen the ties between the House, Dangote refinery and the state government, as well as improve the economy of the state.
He expressed Dangote’s determination to continue to invest in Nigeria in order to tackle unemployment and uplift the standard of living of citizens.
