Dangote
Cement Cameroon has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Mines,
Industries and Technological Development, and the Tombel Council in
Kupe-Muanenguba Division of the South West Region to begin exploiting a
local quarry for its production purposes.
Speaking
to Cameroon Tribune on October 11, 2014, the Divisional Officer for
Tombel Subdivision, Ayuk Edward Takor, said Dangote received a five-year
permit from the ministry. The quarry is located about 5 km from Tombel
along the Tombel-Loum highway. It is on a hill adjacent the old Customs
Post between the then East and West Cameroon States. Following the
development, expectations are high in Tombel as to the dividends of the
project. This is especially so as Dangote has promised to grade the
virtually impassable 10-km Tombel-Loum highway as well employing local
people.
Confirming
the news to this paper on Monday, October 13, 2014, the Liaison Officer
for Dangote, Mrs. Bekong Josephine, said the company received permit
for about 27 hectares of land. The company will pay about FCFA 2.7
million to the State annually for the deal; with 15 per cent of it going
to the local community and 10 per cent to the council. Mrs. Bekong
promised that the project will take off as soon as they are through with
electricity connection to the site; hopefully before November 2014.
Quarry material is used as replacement for clinker in cement production.
According
to the DO, a series of meetings on the project were held in Tombel.
They were attended by a representative of Dangote, the company’s
consultant and the public. The First Deputy Mayor of Tombel and
Paramount Ruler of the town, Dr Bernard Ebong Salle, said he submitted
250 employment requests to Dangote. The list included lawyers, nurses,
accountants, general labourers and drivers; though Dangote asked only
for drivers and labourers, he added. He disclosed that Dangote gave
assurances to recruit about 100 local workers.
However,
when the authorities of the neighbouring Loum Council in Moungo
Division of the Littoral Region heard that Dangote Cement was to exploit
the quarry, they filed a complaint with the Ministry of Territorial
Administration and Decentralisation, claiming a portion of the area. The
National Commission on Boundary Disputes was in Tombel on October 6,
2014 to look into the matter. After searching, representatives of the
Commission, Loum and Tombel Councils, uncovered the pillar marking the
boundary between the then West and East Cameroon. According to the
boundary pillar, Loum Council has about one per cent of the quarry area,
Dr Bernard Ebong Salle pointed out.
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