A protest broke out last week Tuesday at the Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc in Yola, Adamawa State, as a large group of peasant farmers gathered to oppose the company’s planned expansion of its sugarcane farm, citing threats to their livelihoods.
The protesters, which included the elderly, youth, women, and children, gathered on the Yola-Gombe Road outside the refinery to demand that Dangote halt its land expansion.
The protesters, from the Kola, Dumna, and Zakawon districts in the Guyuk Local Government Area, voiced their strong opposition to the land grab, vowing to resist the project at all costs.
Brandishing placards with various messages, the distressed farming communities emphasized that their primary source of income—agriculture—was being jeopardized by the expansion.
David Time, the leader of the protest, warned that the loss of farmland would exacerbate hunger and insecurity in the area.
“Taking away our farmland will worsen the already fragile peace in this community,” Time stated.
He criticized Dangote Sugar Refinery for neglecting its corporate social responsibility to the local communities.
According to him, the company had failed to provide essential services such as medical facilities, classrooms, water, or roads.
Time called for immediate intervention from both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, urging them to prevent Dangote from encroaching on their farmland.
He asked, “Where will our farmers go if Dangote takes over our land? What will become of our youth if our farms are taken away?”
He added that farming is the community’s only means of survival, and the youth were adamant in rejecting the expansion plans. “The youths are resolute—we completely reject any move by Dangote Sugar Refinery to expand into our farmlands,” he stated.
Dangote Sugar Refinery is part of the Dangote Group, which is owned by Africa’s wealthiest individual, Aliko Dangote.
The group operates across 17 African countries and dominates the cement market on the continent. As of March 2025, Dangote’s net worth had reportedly increased from $13 billion to $23 billion, making him the richest person in Africa, according to Business Insider Africa.