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Coy decries Incessant Harassment and Extortion By Youth Group
An Ajaokuta based Ceramics company, BN Ceramic industry Nig. Ltd. in Kogi state has said that it will never compromise its determined goal to give top priority to the welfare of every cadre of its workforce, irrespective of incessant harassment and extortion by some misguided youths.
The company also reiterated its vow to always accord due respect and provide succor to its host communities through its robust corporate social responsibility platform especially by providing employment opportunities to youths.
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja shortly after some youths allegedly invaded the company premises and destroyed property worth millions of naira, the Human resources manager of the company, Mallam Saliu Mohammed said the management was shocked over the invasion.
According to him the youths under the auspices of Pan African Youths Development Network forcefully invaded the premises of the company accompanied by some armed policemen and soldiers and threatened to deal with the management of the company unless ₦10 million was given to them.
He disclosed that the youth group who also illegally demanded a bus and a certain amount of money to be paid to them from the company’s monthly profit also incited the workers against the management of the company which according to him led to the shutdown of the company.
“BN ceramic provides employment to over 1000 youths and pays all local government, state, and federal government taxes and levies, if they shut us down what would happen to the teeming youths working here? This kind of blackmail and intimidation will only scare away foreign investors from the country,” He said.
Mohammed stressed that the youth group capitalized on the accident that occurred outside the premises of the company involving a Volkswagen saloon Golf car and the company bus where two of its staff lost their lives with the allegations that the management was not responsive enough.
The Human resources Manager who was flanked by the Marketing development manager, Mr James Bright, and the sales manager, Mr Mike Tamir said there was practically nothing the company could have done to stop an accident that occurred several kilometres away from the company premises involving another careless commuter.
He told Journalists that immediately the news of the accident got to the management, they immediately dispatched some people to the scene led by the company’s safety officers who rescued the victims and immediately took those injured to the hospital.
Regrettably, “two female staff of the company namely, Faliar Ozigi and Halimat Jibo died on the spot of the accident.” he added.
The human resources manager said while he was preparing to go to the scene of the accident with other management team of the company to sympathize and give them necessary support, some youths in the area threatened to lynch them if they ventured out of the company premises, a situation which he said scared them.
He, however, disclosed that the management still made necessary arrangements and swiftly provided the necessary logistics to move the injured to the hospital and paid for all expenses incurred while those with complications have been moved to a higher hospital.
While saying the company has prepared a comprehensive package for the families of the two staff who lost their lives, he said more incentives will also be made available to the injured and vowed that the company will always be responsive to the plights and welfare at all times.
END.
Featured
Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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