Who authorized the evacuation of the machinery and equipment?
Why was one million Naira paid to the youths?
What is responsible for the abandonment of the project?
Site under lock and key.
The question agitating the minds of Agbahara Nsu indigenes in Ehime Mbano LGA is whether the Owelle Rochas Okorocha led administration in Imo State has abandoned the Nsu Tiles and Ceramic Industry.
According to The leader report, it will be recalled that the Governor informed natives of the community during a visit in 2012 that his administration is poised in establishing the Nsu Tiles Industry under a joint partnership with Italian investors who will provide machinery and technical expertise, while the government will provide the logistics, financial backing and enabling environment as the raw material is readily available in commercial quantity.
A high powered government delegation led by Chief Benjamin Uwajumogu, Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, accompanied by Hon. Kingsley Nwabueze Dimaku, member representing Ehime State Constituency in the House of Assembly, Hon. Lady Chioma Ogoke who was then Commissioner of Commerce and Industry also visited the site with the Italian investors.
In a second visit to the site, Governor Rochas Okorocha accompanied by Hon. Chioma Ogoke, Dr. Jude Nwokonkwo, TC Chairman and Italian investors informed the natives that Nsu Ceramic Industry will also be established at the same venue.
According to him, the ceramic industry is 100% owned by the state government. He posited that the effort is geared towards providing employment opportunities to the people.
He warned the youths against extorting money from the Italian investors and promised to ensure that job opportunities were provided to the youths from the host community.
As it were the youths were excited at the prospects of gaining employment. However, the story changed as the youths in their numbers resisted the attempt by the authorities to cart away already procured equipment and machinery which were imported by the defunct Governor Sam Mbakwe regime.
These youths mobilized and resisted the attempts by agents of the state. But the youth caved in when agents of government donated one million naira to them. The donation facilitated the carting away of all the equipment from the containers to an unknown destination and for purposes yet to be explained.
When THE LEADER visited the site of the proposed industry it gathered that no activity was going on, only that the vast expanse of land has been overgrown with weeds and reptiles infest the site.
Further investigations revealed that on assumption of office, Lady Chioma Ogoke, the SOLAD Ehime Mbano LGA promised to give adequate attention to Nsu Tiles and Ceramic Industry. But the former transition committee chairman Ehime Mbano was fingered for allegedly disposing some containers and equipment which were branded as scraps and obsolete.
The Italians packed their bags and baggages after the local government signed a memorandum of understanding with the host community.
Many who spoke to our reporter posed the following questions. Who authorized the evacuation of the machinery and equipment? Why was one million Naira paid to the youths? What is responsible for the abandonment of the project?
Meanwhile, the desolate site was still under lock and key. Source: theleaderassumpta
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