The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has condemned the hasty closure of the Dangote Cement Factory at Obajana by the Kogi State government, and its negative implication on Nigeria’s worsening job market.

The NACCIMA President, Ide John Udeagbala, recently, stated that the Kogi State government’s decision to close the cement company was rash and hasty.

He said that since the issue was tax-related, it would have been amicably resolved through dialogue.

The NACCIMA boss also lamented that the closure of the company was a huge blow to the nation’s comatose economy.

He pointed out that the outfit was a huge production plant that suplies key domestic inputs (cement) into the economy, while at the sametime employing hundreds of thousands of Nigerians directly and indirectly.

“This is aside its substantial budget for corporate social responsibility outside of taxes.

“Shutting down the factory does not necessarily help the controversial issue of compliance on taxes remittable to the Kogi State. Rather, a continual operation of the plant would more likely be beneficial to the nation’s econmy,” he said.

Recall that the state government acused the cement company of evading tax and other “responsibilities” to the state.