Dangote Group of companies has issued cheques worth more than ten million naira to affected persons in the Afo Ibughibu Umuchu in Aguata Council Area ghastly accident, some time ago, occasioned by one of its trailers fully loaded with bags of cement.

The cheques were given to the beneficiaries at the office of the state Deputy Governor, Government House, Awka, when the group alongside some of the affected persons paid him a courtesy visit.

Dangote group of companies paid the compensation to the beneficiaries through a representative of Nem Insurance PLC, an insurance company engaged by the Dangote Company since last year to settle damages caused by any of the company’s heavy trucks across the country.

Addressing the delegation , Governor Obiano represented by his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, commended the group for compensating the affected persons, unlike before when the company’s drivers are known to run away from accident scene, leaving their victims to bear their loses alone.

He encouraged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the money given to them, noting however that no amount of money can replace their lost loved ones or properties.

Governor Obiano while pointing out that the Dangote company’s heavy duty trucks have damaged a lot of roads in the state, called on them to device means of giving back to the state, adding that the state is also one of the major customers of the company in the country in terms of cement and other products.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Medical Supplies and Facilities, Dr. Vincent Okpala, through whom the state government facilitated the payment of the compensation, three persons died in the accident, while about seven persons received different degrees of injuries.

Earlier in his speech, the representative of the Insurance Company, Mr. Kolawole Lateef commended the state government and the victims of the accident for amicably settling with the company without involving the court of law, and consoled the affected persons especially those that lose their loved ones to the incident.

In their separate reactions Ibughibu Umuchu Youth Leader, Mr. Vitus Ikeh, and one of the bereaved persons, Mr. Valentine Ononuju who lost his father to the incident, appreciated the company for keeping to its promise, and thanked the state government for pursuing the case to the end.

A minute silence was also observed for the people that died in the accident.