As a responsible business entity
with interest in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, we are thus
constrained to use this medium to state our position clearly in view of the
threats posed by these unscrupulous campaigns against the company.
·
BUA Group is
a Nigerian conglomerate with investments running into billions of dollars
within Nigeria from cement to sugar, real estate, flour, pasta, rice and port
operations. As a result, we have become one of the largest single contributors
to the GDP of the country – creating tens of thousands of jobs in the process.
·
We are aware
of various instances of sponsored falsehood by certain persons including ‘How BUA, others abuse sugar concession
pact’, ‘Okpella monarch warns BUA
against inciting community’, etc. What is most worrisome about this ugly
trend has been the manner in which these unsubstantiated news items make the
pages of certain newspapers.
·
In
continuation of these abhorrent act, these ‘persons’ sponsored their agents on
a trip to Lafiagi, where our sugar plantation is located in Kwara State to
coincide with a visit by the Federal Government inter-ministerial Monitoring
Team for the Sugar Industry to Lafiagi Sugar Company. Despite the facts on the
ground and sufficient evidence to support those facts, which were commended by
the industry monitoring watchdog, we have uncontestable evidence to show that
these ‘persons’ sponsored the publication of a negative story titled ‘Residents bemoans BUA’s investments in
Lafiagi Sugar’ to discredit the work we are doing at the site. It however
took the professionalism of some respected journalists to ensure that the story
was not given the push they desperately sought.
·
We respect
the rights of the media, the role they played in our society and the ethics of
their profession. Whilst we do not intend to encroach on the media’s ‘right to
write’, we also believe in the principles of fairness, factual reporting and
balance in reportage and will not hesitate to seek legal recourse, if
necessary, to protect our reputation, our business and the jobs of the
thousands of employees whose livelihood are being threatened by the
unprofessional behavior of the few bad eggs. Finally, we wish to use this
medium to thank those online and print media practitioners who have chosen to
maintain the integrity of the profession by choosing to stay above the fray of
unethical practices and hope they will continue to be beacons of
professionalism within the industry.
SIGNED:
MANAGEMENT
BUA Group
Head Office: 64, Adetokumbo
Ademola Street, Victoria Island,
Lagos, Nigeria.
Tel: +2344610669-70
No comments:
Post a Comment