Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Senate Committee on Trade and Investment has charged the Federal Government to concession the Eleme-Onne axis of the East-West Road, to private investors for reconstruction and management.
Chairman of the Committee, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, during a visit to the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne, described the deplorable road as a key transport artery for the nation’s economy.
Fadahunsi who led members of committee to tour the Free Zone, described Onne Free Zone as a successful initiative in public-private sector project.
He explained that the committee was conducting the oversight visit in effort to work with OGFZA and other stakeholders in the zone to generate more jobs for Nigerians.
“The lone access road to the oil and gas industrial hub in the Eleme-Onne axis of Rivers State needs to be urgently saved from total disrepair, in order to prevent adverse impact on industries located in the area that could lead to a massive loss of jobs and revenue to government.
“The Eleme-Onne Road is part of the East-West Road network and serves as the only access to the Port Harcourt Refineries at Eleme; the Onne Port Complex; the nation’s flagship Oil and Gas Free Zone at Onne; Indorama-Eleme Petrochemicals Company, which is the nation’s leading fertilizer producer and exporter; as well as the Notore Industries Limited, another fertilizer producer and promoter of the Notore Industrial City (a free zone).”
Similarly, the Managing Director of OGFZA, Umana Okon Umana, reiterated the need for the Federal Government to concession the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West Road.
Umana also presented OGFZA progress report in infrastructure development, increase in investments and export value, as well as human capital development to the committee.
Presentations were also made operators in the Free Zone, which include Intels Nigeria Limited and FMCEquip, makers of equipment for deep sea oil drilling.
FMCEquip, in its presentation, reported 96percent compliance in local content laws and regulations, and commended the management of OGFZA for being very supportive.
Intels on its part briefed the Committee on its billions of dollar investments in infrastructure in the free zone and community support in Rivers State, Cross River and Delta states.
