Cross River Host Communities Protest, Threaten To Shut Lafarge Cement

By CrossRiverWatch Admin

Seven host communities to Lafarge-Holcim cement company in Akamkpa local government of Cross River State have again threatened to shut down the company operations.

The host communities are at daggers drawn with the company over alleged neglect of the people and non implementation of the 80% local content policy.

Over 500 youths from the communities: Mfamosing, Abiati, Akansoko, Ekong, Anaku, Mbubi and Ikong Efanga in Akamkpa and Odukpani LGAs laid siege to the company premises.

They handed a 14 day ultimatum to the company to address their demands or have their operations shut down.

The youths later marched to the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Akamkpa, His Royal Majesty, Ntufam Emayip at Mfamosing to lay their complaints.

They urged the Federal and State governments to prevail on the firm to implement the local content policy.

The communities also demanded the company relocate its headquarters from Lagos to the Cross River state capital, Calabar.

According to the protesters, the company hired strangers instead of indigenes even for menial jobs.

The youths who carried placards and tree brances urged the company to treat its Cross River host communities the way it treats Ewokoro and Ashaka in Ogun and Benue states respectively.

The protesters were seen carrying placards bearing inscriptions like:

“We are tired of injustice and marginalization done to host communities, we no go gree again oooh.”

“We want the office of Financial Director.”

“We also demand that Human Resource Director should be an indigene, nothing else.”

Responding, Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Lafarge Africa Plc, Folashade Ambrose said the company appreciated the stand of the people and promised to convey their message to the management of the company.

“We appreciate the stand of the people. we will take the message back to the management of the company and we will surely get back to the host communities.” she said.