By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The management of Dangote Cement Plc has noted that security operatives in Adamawa State wrongly intercepted two of its trucks carrying cement last week.
The two trucks were accused of attempting to divert about 1,800 bags of cement to the neighbouring country, Cameroon, in defiance of an executive order in the state.
The Governor of Adamawa State, Mr Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, signed an executive order banning the transportation of food and building materials across the country’s border through the state.
On Friday, February 9, 2024, security officials stopped two trucks loaded with 900 bags of cement each from the Obajana Cement Plant on their way to Jamtari, Maiha Local Government, Adamawa State, based on a customer’s request.
They were accused of attempting to take the products to Cameroon, but Dangote Group, in a statement signed by its Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Mr Anthony Chiejina, said there was the need to divert cement to Cameroon because it has a functional cement plant in the country, describing the allegation of attempting to export cement as false and malicious.
Mr Chiejina explained that the two trucks were on their way to deliver products requested by a customer and wondered why the security agents would intercept and accuse them of attempting to divert their load to the Republic of Cameroun.
“It was surprising that on their way to deliver the products to the stated address, the security agents on that particular route intercepted them at a village called Wurolabi,” the statement said.
It was stated that the officers who made the arrest did not pay attention to details of what was written on the Waybill despite efforts by the two drivers to explain to them.
“Our officials were thereafter invited by the DSS Adamawa State, and we explained to them the true position of things.
“We had to show them the tracking movement of the trucks from the DCP Obajana to the last point where they were arrested by the soldiers, to convince them that the trucks were not crossing to the republic of Cameroon as was being wrongfully insinuated by some media,” the company stated, revealing that the affected drivers have been released.
