AKS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT SPEAKS ON 2019 POLLS: UDOM’S VICTORY A REALITY –FDI BOSS
FEBRUARY 9, 2019
………..With all the quantum achievements and foreign direct investments attracted into Akwa Ibom State by the present administration, the reelection of Udom Emmanuel for second term in office is not only visible but a reality.
These were the words of the Chairman of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Mr. Gabriel Ukpeh, during a media parley with newsmen in the state recently.
According to him, Governor Emmanuel assumed office in 2015 with a five-point agenda, and to make the manifesto a reality, there were some of the structures he needed to deliver and he set up a 10-man committee to oversee the seaport, agriculture & food sufficiency and foreign direct investment, and the committee worked judiciously to bring the Governor’s vision to reality.
Mr. Ukpe stated that the FDI brought about at least 15 industries which no governor or government in Nigeria has ever boasted of such achievement within three and a half years in office. “Governor Emmanuel is not a talking type. He often said that he is not a professional politician but a professional in politics, so he prefers his achievements to speak for him.
“The syringe manufacturing company in Onna produces different sizes of syringes. It is unfortunate that, people come all the way from Lagos State to buy the syringes while Akwa Ibom people prefer to go to Lagos to buy the same product, rather than take advantage and be distributors. Workers at the factory are well treated and paid promptly.”
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Mr. Gabriel Ukpeh, Chairman, FDI
Speaking further, Mr. Ukpeh said Governor Emmanuel, whose cardinal policy is to ensure that there is an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, runs a very transparent government, and does not play politics with development, adding that part of enabling environment is the peaceful disposition.
He maintained that all the industries including the Metering Solution Company, Flour Mill, among others are private-driven. “For private investors to invest in the state, they conducted a visibility study on the state and found Governor Emmanuel to be a professional businessman who can be trusted, hence their confidence to invest in the state.
Mr. Ukpeh further disclosed that an Indian company has indicated interest to invest N3 billion on fertilizer plant in Ikot Abasi local government area of the state, adding that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has signed to take 20% of the shareholding, and that what is left is to sign an oil & gas agreement with ExxonMobil. Once that is done, work will commence on the site to open up the enormous potentials in the State.
“There is also a Fertilizer Blending Plant in Oku Abak, Rice Processing Mill in Ini, Palm Kernel Oil Processing Plant in Ukanfun which was abandoned by the immediate past administration, has been utilized. It was just lying in the fallow but because of the vision of the Governor, the depot is being utilized.
“This is the first palm kernel processing oil plant in Akwa Ibom State, which has the highest palm kernel quantum in the country, supplying the South-South, South East, etc, and the Federal Government has certified the factory as the 11th blending plant in the country.
“The Coconut Plantation and Refinery in Mkpat Enin will solve the dwindling price of crude oil. Apart from the coconut oil which has advantage over crude oil, coconut has 365 uses. The coconuts in the plantation are special breeds.
“The Ibom Deep Seaport project promises to start by first quarter of this year with the state government partnering the federal government. All required approvals have been obtained and committee set up. Negotiation is ongoing with bidders,” he stated.
Earlier, while conducting newsmen on a tour to the Shoprite attached to the Ibom Tropicana Entertainment Centre, the FDI boss disclosed that a lot of work has been done to bring the Shoprite Mall to that stage, and that within a couple of months, the mall 15,000 US Dollars project will be operational.
He spoke of Governor Emmanuel as a man of vision and direction, and that all he needs is the support of Akwa Ibom people to interpret the vision into reality. “The Governor has done extremely well. Nobody can compete with his track records. He is an honest, trust worthy and God fearing man.
“The peaceful disposition in the state is commendable without which there would be no development. The only way to develop Akwa Ibom State is to support Udom Emmanuel’s reelection to sustain the industries he has attracted into the state,” Mr. Ukpeh concluded.
Premium Times, in its recent publication, stated that there is no governor that has done what Governor Udom Emmanuel has done within three and a half years. If he could do this in the short period, he deserves another chance to do more.
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