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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The National Security Council (NSC), chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, has directed that Dangote cement factory in Obajana, Kogi State, be reopened immediately.
The council gave the directive after a meeting held at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja, on Friday.
Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, joined by his Interior counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, briefed reporters after the meeting.
Aregbesola said an agreement had been reached between Kogi State Government and Dangote Group on the need to reopen the cement factory, urging both parties to respect the agreement.
The minister added that the council ordered immediate reopening of the factory and advised that all issues in contention be resolved legally as government was committed to providing employment.
On the ultimatum given by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Thursday, that residents of the state would take their own decision on procurement of sophisticated weapons if the Federal Government fails to respond to his application for licence for the state-owned security outfit, the minister reiterated that no state had been authorised to acquire automatic rifles and urged that due process be followed.
The council also directed the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in conjuction with the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF) to set up a high-powered investigation committee into the crude oil theft in the Niger Delta, with a view to unraveling those behind it.