The Federal Government has praised Dangote Cement Plc for delivering significant development projects in its host communities in Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State, underscoring the company’s commitment to social investment and sustainable growth. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, spoke during the commissioning of new water infrastructure, scholarship awards, and a youth skills acquisition programme, highlighting the firm’s efforts under Nigeria’s Community Development Agreement (CDA) framework, according to ThisDay Live.
Dr. Alake noted that the CDA, a federal policy requiring mining companies to reinvest part of their profits into surrounding communities, has guided Dangote Cement’s social initiatives, resulting in projects co-designed and certified with beneficiary communities. He urged residents to “own and protect” the facilities to ensure long-term impact, as reported by The Guardian Nigeria.
The commissioned projects include motorised and solar-powered boreholes aimed at improving access to potable water, along with a scholarship programme expanded to all six host communities, now valued at ₦28.8 million. The youth training component, supervised by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), seeks to equip young people with skills to boost employability and local enterprise, according to ThisDay Live.
Community leaders welcomed the initiatives, noting immediate benefits in water access and skill development. The federal government reiterated its commitment to enforcing CDA provisions nationwide, ensuring that responsible investment and community partnership remain central to sustainable development in Nigeria’s mining sector.
