By Francis Nansak
Despite the presence of multinational companies such as Dangote, Olam Farms, and Flour Mills in Nasarawa State, the host communities have yet to benefit significantly from their operations.
The companies, which have invested heavily in the state’s agricultural and mineral sectors, have failed to provide basic social amenities such as good roads, portable drinking water, healthcare centers, and schools to the host communities.
According to residents, the only benefits they have derived from the companies’ presence are meager government revenues and occasional distributions of food items by federal government interventions and elective representatives.
Olam Farms, which was established in 2013 for rice production, has not made any significant impact on the local economy, despite producing thousands of tons of rice on its 6,000-hectare farm in Doma Local Government Area.
Similarly, the Dangote Refinery, whose activities have been shrouded in secrecy, has failed to provide adequate compensation and infrastructure to locals whose lands were acquired for the project.
Flour Mills Nigeria Limited, another major rice producer in the state, has also been criticized for its lack of corporate social responsibility in the host communities.
The Nasarawa State government, led by Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has encouraged wealth creation through mineral deposits and agricultural production, but residents say more needs to be done to ensure that investors give back to the host communities.
“The presence of these companies has not made any significant difference in our lives,” said a resident of one of the host communities. “We still lack basic amenities, and our roads are in a deplorable state.”
