The National Association of Nigerian Students have raised alarm over what they called ‘Mismanagement and Lack of Transparency and Accountability in Cement Technology Institute of NIGERIA, CTIN Funds Administration under billionaire Aliko Dangote’s leadership.
In a petition addressed to President Tinubu which they presented through a Press Conference today, they expressed their ‘outrage regarding the mismanagement and lack of accountability within the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN), an organisation under Dangote’s Leadership as pioneer and self imposed life Chairman’.
In their petition, they claimed that the ‘misuse, diversion and misappropriation of such strategic fund intended to provide training and development opportunities for Nigerian youth in the cement industry in line with the establishment goals of CTIN is a weighty one, in fact it’s a future-threatening act and an act of economy sabotage’.
They are of the opinion that, ‘Certainly, the fund has been squandered, leaving a trail of broken promises and shattered dreams as nothing can be pointed at as an achievement in this regard’.
To them, ‘the situation of countless Nigerian youths, who remains unemployed and lacking technical skills in a rapidly advancing global economy like ours, is a harsh testament to the repercussions of such mismanagement and embezzlement. Another hidden factor responsible for the unprecedented hike in cement price in the country’.
Heaping blames on the billionaire, they claimed that, ‘we are living in a country where our potential is suppressed and our future is uncertain courtesy of greed and selfishness of a microscopic few in position of authority, while leaders of our industries such as Aliko Dangote with such a special intervention fund failed to do the needful but rather enrich themselves by diverting such funds intended for our growth and development for only God and Dangote known purpose and use’.
According to them, they demand answers, demand accountability, explanation and also demand justice.
Speaking further they stated that:
1. In clear terms, We urge Mr President to issue a directive to Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to make public as a matter of urgency and national importance her role so far, the status, management, and usage of the over 20billion Naira (about $100 million as at then) contributed as levies on imported cement to CTIN for technical training purposes since over 10 years ago when Nigeria was still importing cement.
We know and we are fully aware nothing has been done with the fund in line with its purpose. This is money that should have gone to government coffers for investment in our vocational and technical education system.
Alh Aliko Dangote has been sole chairman since this institution was created by the Federal Ministry of Trade in conjunction with cement importers – hence why we are also demanding an explanation directly from Alh Aliko Dangote as to where is the said fund.
Your Excellency, to avert degeneration of this matter, where all Dangote industries will be occupied by Nigerian students nationwide, kindly advice Alh Aliko Dangote to immediately engage an external independent forensic auditor to audit the CTIN funds, and we also demand that anyone found guilty be held accountable for their actions.
We further demand swift action towards restructuring the leadership and governance of CTIN, nothing like life chairman, it should be democratic to prevent such overstay that is bringing severe mismanagement of what should be the People’s commonwealth from happening in the future.
We demand from Chairman CTIN Aliko Dangote , an explanation on his level of involvement as to what looks to the public as a mismanagement and misappropriation of the CTIN funds.
The Nigerian youth will no longer remain silent as our potential is suppressed and our futures are jeopardized by anyone.
This is not a plea for answers; this is a demand for accountability, transparency, justice and a rallying cry for all those who believe in Nigeria’s potential and the rights of its youth to education, opportunity, and a fair shot at success.
We will not rest until every penny of the funds is accounted for, and until those responsible for this shameful betrayal of trust by hiding these funds and not using them for their right purpose, are held accountable publicly.
We will use every available platform and legal recourse to seek justice and ensure that such a breach of public trust never reoccurs.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, CTIN members, Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Investment, the Nigerian youth are waiting, and we demand your swift and thorough public response within seven days of the publication of this letter.’
