Ogun State Government has halted an attempt by Dangote Cement to demolish Elefon Primary School located on its mining site in Ewekoro Local Government Area.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, confirmed the intervention on Tuesday.

The situation came to light after a state lawmaker, Yusuf Amosun, raised complaints that Dangote Cement had already demolished the school to access mineral resources below without proper notice or approvals. The allegations prompted condemnations from the State House Speaker.

Commissioner Arigbabu revealed that Dangote Cement had started obstructing the school premises weeks prior, prompting Governor Dapo Abiodun to swiftly order the company to cease any activities on the property. While surveying any damage done already, Arigbabu reiterated that Dangote Cement cannot provide evidence of acquisition permits allowing demolition.

“The school belongs to the government. That is why we stopped them when we heard of it,” he affirmed.

Dangote Cement spokesperson Prince Yomi Gbadebo insisted however that while the school falls into land under the company’s federal mining license, the structures still stand and have not hindered students. Gbadebo claimed proper compensations were paid to the community, but the school itself may be affected in future cement factory development.

As Dangote evaluates next steps pending government scrutiny, the Education Ministry remains adamant that Elefon Primary School must stay protected, posing a new hurdle to mining plans in Ewekoro. The stand-off underscores rising tensions between commercial interests and local communities in Ogun State.

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