13th November, 2015
Ashaka Cement Company, a subsidiary of Lafarge Holcim, gave 100 bags of rice to 100 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in Gombe, Gombe State on Friday.
Malam Sulaiman Yahaya, Chairman, Board of Directors of the company who presented the rice, said the company was disheartened with the plight of the IDPs caused by insurgency.
Yahaya prayed that God will give them the strength to overcome their conditions and expressed optimism that peace will return to the region.
“By the special grace of God, peace will return to the region and you will have a new beginning,” he said.
Yahaya said the company had in the last 37 years assisted over 15,000 communities as part of the company’s social responsibilities.
He said the company would soon launch a new housing programme tagged “Alheri Housing scheme”, where houses would be built and allocated to the IDPs at an affordable price.
“We want the IDPs to move from camp to better homes so that they will live happily”, he said.
Malam Abubakar Yahaya, Gombe State Secretary, Nigerian Red Cross Society, commended the company for the gesture and called on other organisations and spirited individuals to emulate same.
Malam Bukar Alli, an IDP from Damboa, Borno State and also a beneficiary, thanked the company for the gesture.
NAN reports that the chairman also visited the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu at his palace and congratulated him for his ascension to the throne.