9th March, 2011
The Benue House of Assembly has summoned Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the Managing Director of Benue Cement Company (BCC) in Gboko, to appear before it on March 15, 2011.
The summon became necessary on Tuesday in Makurdi after a member, Hon. Shima Tarka, raised on the House floor the need to have BCC explain some actions.
“BCC’s articulated vehicles have left their parking spaces and are now parking on the highway. This act is a dangerous one.
“This needs to be condemned in totality because it endangers the lives of travellers who go through the Gboko-Makurdi route.
“Measures should be taken against the company for abandoning its parking space and reverting to the use of the highway as its parking space,†Tarka said. Another member, Wilfred Bula, added that the company had taken over the highway completely.
“This deadly act has led to the death of so many people because some vehicles do ram into the articulated vehicles that are usually parked very close to the road. “Again, accidents are caused as a result of driving in and out of the company indiscriminately.
“Also, the company should be compelled to beautify the environment in which it operates,†Bula said. Contributing also, Shimawua Azaigba, urged BCC to approach the nearby Mbayion community for land so as to be able to expand its parking spaces.
“Vehicles that are parked very close to the road should by all means be impounded and this will serve as a deterrent to others,†Azaigba said.
The Speaker of the House, Terseer Tsumba, while presenting its resolutions, said the presence of the BCC MD was necessary.