BY John Odhe, YENAGOA
The paramount ruler of Obunagha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, HRH, Yeseibo Peremobowei has appealed to the federal government to urgently save the ongoing construction of Eraskon Lubricant/Chemicals Blending Plant project from total collapse.
The paramount ruler made the appeal when Mr. Maxwell Oko, Chairman of Erasko Energy Limited, owners of the project, took a member of the House of Representatives from Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, Mr. Oboku Oforji, on a tour of the multi-billion naira facility which has been seriously ravaged by erosion.
Noting that his community would benefit greatly from the project, in terms of employment opportunities when completed, the monarch expressed disappointment over the level of damage already done to the facility by the river surge.
“We have been very happy and grateful to the company for citing this gigantic project in our territory given the benefits that our people will enjoy upon its completion.
“But we are, however, sad that this huge investment is facing serious challenge of erosion.
“I am aware that there was a very big building at the other side but has been chopped off into the river by the erosion. We were told that it was the factory building.
“In the same vein, the erosion is fast approaching those two big tanks which we were told each has 2 million-litre storage capacity.
“Both the federal and State governments should take urgent action to save this laudable project from destruction,” the paramount ruler submitted, calling on the government to hire the services of erosion prevention and control experts to save the facility.
The project was conceived to deepen Nigeria’s industrial capacity, promote local content development, reduce dependence on imported lubricants and packaging materials and create substantial employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The facility comprises a 128,000 -litre per day lubricant/chemicals blending plant producing various grades of engine oils, hydraulic oils, break fluids, radiator coolants, fuel injection cleaners, gear oils, industrial lubricants, marine lubricants and synthetic lubricants.
The project is designed to create: 200 direct skilled employment opportunities over 1,000 indirect jobs across operations, logistics, transportation, engineering services, distribution, security, maintenance, packaging, raw materials supply and other support services.
