Economy: Oche receives Benue Committee on Privatization, assures of Council support over resuscitation of Igumale Cement plant 

The Chairman of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, Mr. James Oche has promised that his administration will create a good atmosphere and be supportive of the investors who would be considered by the Benue State Government to revive the Igumale Cement plant.

Oche stated this recently when the Benue State Council on Privatization and Commercialization of Enterprises led by its Chairman, Hon. Chris Aba visited Ado for the inspection of the plant’s facility. The team was received by the Ado Executive Council and Legislative Council led by Hon. Oche and Mr. Emmanuel Ajagbo the Leader of the Ado Legislative Assembly.

Oche said Ado is lucky to be seating on a special kind of limestone that produces white cement, the one used for POP. He said, of all the cement factories in Nigeria, non produces white cement and Ado has the largest deposit of same in the whole of west Africa.

Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Chris Aba promised that the committee will go extra miles in the actualization of its mandate. He said, about eighty percent of what is needed for the factory to take off was available and assured that the Chinese who own seventy percent shares in the factory will be contacted to immediately resume.

The Chairman also said that the committee will consider advising government to cede its thirty percent holdings to the Chinese share holder in order for production to start. He further expressed the committees readiness to approach other interested investors in the event the Chinese fail to honour the proposal. The committee also enjoined the Ado Chairman not to hesitate to explore organizations or persons interested in getting the factory back on its feet.

In separate but similar remarks, Benue State Commissioner for Industry and Cooperatives, Kachina Merga Esq and General Manager of Benue Investments and Properties Company, BIPC, Alex Ter Adum Esq assured of government’s seriousness in getting the factory to work, which they said is the general mandate and first objective of the committee.

On the visitation team were Hon. Chris Aba Chairman, Hon. Merga Kachina Esq, Alex Ter Adum Esq, Comrade Anya Godwin and Mr. Lumun Feese. Others were Iyornumbe lme, Mr. Orbem Levi and Fidelis Annune the Secretary

Speaking, Mr. Oche commended the Governor Samuel Ortom led administration for its commitment to resuscitate and revive moribund industries in the state and appreciated the committee’s commitment to delivering on its mandate while promising that his administration would be of whatever support it can afford to actualize the revival of the Igumale cement plant.