An Ajaokuta based Ceremics company, BN Ceremic industry Nig. Ltd. in Kogi state has said that it will never compromise it’s determined goal to give top priority to the welfare of every cadre of its workforce and the host community.
The Chinese company also reiterated its vow to always accord due respect and provide succour to it’s host communities through its robust social responsibility platform especially by providing employment opportunities to our youths.
Speaking with newsmen after some youths allegedly invaded the company premises and destroyed property worth millions of naira, the Human resources Manager of the company, Mallam Saliu Mohamed 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 for a bus and certain amount interest percentage to be paid to them every month also incited the workers against the management of the company which according to him led to the shut down of the company.
Mohamed stressed that the youth group capitalised 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 loss 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 premisesinvolving another careless commuter.
He told newsmen that immediately the news of the accident got to the management, they immediately despatched some people to the scene led by the company 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 sympathise and give them necessary support, some youths in the area threatened to lynch them if they ventured moved out of the company premises, a situation which he said scared them.
He, however, disclosed that the management still 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.
The management of the company accompanied by security personnels led by the Ajaokuta Divivisional police officer, CSP Sola Knight and newsmen later paid a condolence visit to the families of the deceased and victims that are still in the hospital and presented them with some cash gifts.
Speaking on behalf of the deceased families, the father of the 27 years old Faliat , Mr Dauda Ozigi who was in deep sorrow expressed the need for the company to be more proactive to the needs of the staff and the host community and urged the management of the company not to abandon the family.
Recalled that PAN African Youth Development Network had called President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of labour and employment to look into the alleged slavery and injustice meted on workers by the management of BN ceramics Nigeria Limited.
The President of PAN African Youth Development Network Ambassador Habib Muhammad made the call when he led other members of the organisation to BN ceramics company owned by Chinese investors based in Ajaokuta, Kogi State.
