NEWS: DANGOTE SACKS 109

ALIKO DANGTE

In an effort at maintaining, discipline and ensuring strict compliance to its work rules, one of Nigeria’s top employers of labour; The Dangote Group has announced the dismissal of about 109 workers at its Obajana Cement Company in Kogi State, North Central Nigeria.

The workers were, after diligent investigations, found guilty of various offences of various offences following their arrest between May and November, 2016.

Making this known Tuesday was Abdulahi Magaji, Coordinator of the company’s Patrol Team at the Obajana premises of the company.

According to Magaji, of the total 224 persons arrested which included erring drivers, owners of illegal haulage and those stealing the company’s properties among others, 109 had their cases successfully tried and found guilty and therefore lost their places in the company.

Another 115 workers were being remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their cases, he said.

“I am happy to inform you that we have arrested and recovered five stolen trucks; but unfortunately, the products have been stolen”.

“It is interesting to note that one of the kingpins, Samaila Yakubu, who specialized in stealing our trucks in collaboration with some drivers and buyers, has also been arrested”.

“It is this group that has been terrorizing our trucks in the South East and South-south axis”, Abdullahi Magaji, a former Commissioner of Police disclosed.

According to the Coordinator, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had directed that misconducts by drivers should be reduced to the barest minimum and this necessitated the enforcement of strict compliance of the company’s rules and regulations.  

“We have pasted warnings clearly on the cab of all our trucks which prohibiting carrying of goods and passengers apart from company’s products”.

“We are calling on the law enforcement agencies to support the efforts of the Dangote Group in arresting those who break the laws of the company”, Magaji said

Explaining that the efforts of the patrol team had helped to reduce accidents in the fleet, Magaji added that more measures would be put in place to reduce accidents especially as it relates to their company’s truck on Nigerian roads.

Available reports revealed that the major duties of the National Patrol Unit of Dangote Group are to stop illegal haulage and reckless driving by Dangote drivers and also, prevents diversion of products, driving of Dangote trucks by unauthorized drivers and, the enlightenment of drivers on traffic rules among others.