President of Dangote Industries, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has accused the former Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, of twice demolishing his cement plant in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area.

Speaking during a visit to the plant, which is nearing completion, Dangote praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for persuading him to return to Ogun State to resume construction. The billionaire businessman alleged that his project was repeatedly halted under the Amosun administration.

“That factory was demolished twice. We started, and Governor Amosun demolished it. The second time, we started again, and he demolished not only the factory but also the fencing, so we left. But now, because of His Excellency, my brother, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back,” Dangote stated.

He highlighted the significance of the plant, which will include two 6,000t/day clinker production lines, reinforcing Ogun State’s status as an industrial hub. Dangote also pointed to his company’s broader contributions to Nigeria’s economic transformation, including making the country self-sufficient in cement and fertilizer production.

Dangote’s investments, he noted, have helped Nigeria shift from being an importer to an exporter of refined petroleum products. His company’s 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery in Ibeju-Lekki is set to meet local demand for petroleum products, while its petrochemical complex has also begun polypropylene production.

The businessman commended Governor Abiodun’s pro-business policies, attributing his decision to resume operations in Ogun State to the current administration’s support.

In response, former Governor Amosun, through his media aide Lanre Akinwale, denied Dangote’s allegations, asserting that the billionaire lacked the necessary approvals for the structures that were allegedly demolished.

“We want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished,” Amosun’s camp stated.

The former governor insisted that his administration enforced the law fairly and did not allow any entity, including Dangote, to operate outside established regulations. He recalled that during the commissioning of the Ibese Cement Factory, Dangote had previously praised the Amosun administration for supporting investments in Ogun State.

Amosun emphasized that his tenure attracted over 500 companies to Ogun State, earning it recognition from the World Bank for its Ease-of-Doing-Business policies. He warned against what he described as attempts at blackmail, stating, “Not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied, or blackmailed. Some of us will continue to uphold high standards, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”

The dispute has reignited conversations on business-government relations in Ogun State, with stakeholders keenly observing the unfolding developments.

The Federal Government has emphasized that achieving the **Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)** requires their full integration into national and sub-national development plans rather than treating them as isolated initiatives.

The **Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire**, made this call during the **North-East Regional Consultation in Gombe**, part of Nigeria’s **2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR)** preparations for the **High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York this July**. Represented by **Dr. Bala Yunusa, Senior Technical Adviser**, she explained that the **United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)** established the HLPF as a global review mechanism for the 2030 Agenda. Nigeria, now conducting its third VNR, is engaging stakeholders across all six geopolitical zones to assess progress, challenges, and future opportunities.

A statement from her **Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication, Desmond Utomwen**, highlighted the urgent need to accelerate SDG progress. Citing the **2024 UN Sustainable Development Goals Report**, she revealed that only 17% of SDG targets are on track, nearly 50% show minimal or moderate progress, and over one-third have stalled or regressed. She attributed Nigeria’s slow SDG progress to dwindling financial resources, the COVID-19 pandemic, and persistent insecurity.

Orelope-Adefulire stressed the importance of **robust Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) mechanisms**, including SDG Progress Reports and the VNR, to track achievements and challenges. She called for stronger collaboration among public and private sectors, the UN Development System, donor agencies, academia, and civil society to ensure no one is left behind.

Referring to the **“Pact for the Future”** adopted during the **79th UN General Assembly**, she reaffirmed world leaders’ commitment to bold and transformative actions for SDG acceleration. She also echoed **UN Secretary-General António Guterres’** call for massive investments and strategic partnerships to drive key transitions in food security, energy, and digital connectivity.

She commended **Nigeria’s Multi-Stakeholder Core Working Group for the 2025 VNR**, acknowledging the contributions of members from government agencies, the UN Development System, private sector groups, civil society organizations, and academia.

The **North-East Regional Consultation** brought together 150 participants from six states, focusing discussions on institutional frameworks for SDG implementation, progress across the 17 SDGs, and challenges and lessons learned.

**Gombe State SDGs Focal Person, Engr. Sulaiman Turaki**, described the event as a critical dialogue shaping Nigeria’s next VNR. He urged stakeholders to actively contribute, ensuring the review accurately reflects progress, challenges, and opportunities while ensuring no one is left behind in the country’s development efforts.