Business
By Adaobi Nsofor
ANAMBRA State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has directed that work should commence immediately at the Kaolin Processing Plant, Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited, Prof.Charles Ofoegbu made this known when he and his team visited the site to ascertain and familiarise with the Traditional ruler of the Community and his Chiefs about the plans of the Government in setting up the Processing Plant for the benefit of the Community and the state at large.
Prof. Ofoegbu explained that the Project which was long anticipated was finally here for immediate commencement and that the state governor has approved and procured everything needed for the commencement of the Project which will be Commissioned by January 2025.
“The contractor is to start work on Tuesday and he was given eight weeks to deliver all the civil works at the site and another seven weeks to see that the equipment are working and in good shape.”
Prof. Ofoegbu highlighted that the Soludo government has also approved the installation of borehole facilities around the Processing Plant to enable the community to have access to clean water.
“Exploration has commenced and the whole mining sector is being reformed. I urge the Ukpor Community to come out en masse and support the good works of the State Governor.”
Receiving the team at his Palace, the Traditional Ruler of Ukpor, Igwe Felix Onyinmadu excited about the new development commended the State Government for its good works, saying that he believed that the Project would give the community a face-lift and help create job opportunities for its teeming youths.
While assuring the contractor and his team of safety throughout their stay, Igwe Onyinmadu said that his community has so many mineral resources like lignite and kaolin to tap from. He urged the government to do the needful to put them in good use.
The President General of the Community, Chief Izuchukwu Nwawulu said that Ukpor which happened to have a boundary with ten other towns is peaceful and accomodating.
He noted that the community have been keeping and safeguarding the plant site for years with the belief that the government would one day remember the Processing Plant and make good use of it.
Chief Nwawulu described the project, as a dream come true even as the community looked forward to the completion and commissioning of it.
While on a visit to the traditional ruler of Ozubulu which is one of the nearby communities, Igwe Fidelis Oruche said, “the Lignite and Kaolin belt which passes through Ozubulu will bring about massive development between the two communities”.
Igwe Oruche described Ukpor and Ozubulu as brothers and that a development in one of the communities is a development to the other.
He said that the youths should be empowered through mining and other of the related jobs so as to reduce crimes and youthful exuberance in the communities.
The Ozubulu traditional ruler explained that Anambra State has abundant mineral resources and that they should be protected at all cost vis a vis protecting the environment to avoid degradation.
The contractor handling the project, Mr. Chukwuebuka Okafor after the hand over of the Contract Agreement promised to deliver the project within the stipulated time frame.
A.I
Sept. 9, 2024
Tags: Adaobi Nsofor Chief Izuchukwu Nwawulu Igwe Felix Onyinmadu Mr. Chukwuebuka Okafor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo
