The Federal Government has called on host communities in Ogun and Ondo states to support the proposed Dangote Industrial City and Deep Seaport project, describing it as a major investment that will drive economic growth, create jobs and promote community development.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the appeal during a combined Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) site visit to Ode-Omi Waterside Community in Ogun State and Araromi Community in Ondo State.
Lawal who was represented by the Director of Assessment at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Rofikat Adebukunola Odetoro, commended Dangote Industries Limited for its commitment to environmental sustainability and stakeholder engagement.
He expressed satisfaction with the consultations carried out by the company and urged traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure that women and children are fully involved in discussions on the project.
“I urge you to factor women into every engagement. Women and children are as important as every other member of the community and they have unique needs that must not be ignored. Please give this project every support possible. It presents enormous opportunities for youths, women and children to benefit from employment and the mandatory corporate social responsibility initiatives that will accompany it,” he said.
Speaking during the engagement, the Managing Director, Infrastructure and Logistics at Dangote Industries, Jamil Abubakar, assured the communities of transparency, fairness and continuous engagement throughout the implementation of the project.
He said the President of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, remains committed to advancing Africa’s economic self-sufficiency through strategic infrastructure investments.
According to him, the proposed deep seaport at Araromi is expected to become one of the largest in the world.
“Our President is committed to positioning Africa for greater self-sufficiency, and Araromi has been chosen as the location where one of the world’s biggest deep seaports will be built. We are here to listen to the community’s concerns and work together to achieve a win-win outcome for every stakeholder involved,” he said.
Abubakar added that Dangote had directed the project team to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment of the host communities and implement critical interventions regardless of the stage of the project.
Presenting the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Group Lead, Environment and Sustainability at Dangote Industries, Adeyemi Adun, said the study would establish the environmental and socio-economic baseline of the host communities before construction begins.
He explained that the assessment would examine air quality, water resources, soil conditions and socio-economic indicators in line with the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Adun assured residents that the project would deliver positive socio-economic benefits, citing the company’s track record in other host communities across Nigeria.
Also speaking, the Director of the Environmental Assessment Department in the Ondo State Ministry of Environment, Isaac Ojo, welcomed the commencement of the assessment process and urged stakeholders to support the initiative.
The traditional ruler of Araromi Seaside Kingdom, Adeoloye Olawole, described Dangote as “a genius” and pledged the community’s full support for the project.
“We are counting on Aliko Dangote to help develop our kingdom. He is a genius, and we are ready to provide every support necessary to ensure the success of this project. We want him to help develop our land as he is doing across Africa,” the monarch said.
The assessment tour was attended by officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment, representatives of the Ogun and Ondo State Ministries of Environment, local government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, faith-based organisations and officials of Dangote Industries.
At the end of the engagements in Ode-Omi and Araromi, stakeholders signed communiqués outlining their commitments to supporting the project, while consultants commenced environmental and social impact surveys at the proposed project site.
