No fewer than 10, 000 skilled and unskilled labourers would be engaged in the proposed cement factory in Gwana district of Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State when the company commences full production in the next two years.
According to the state commissioner for Natural Resources Development, Hon. Muhammed Maiwada Bello, feasibility studies have reached advanced stage for the siting of the factory by an indigenous company, Residence Cement Factory Nig. Ltd.
Hon. Maiwada Bello while speaking with LEADERSHIP yesterday said that the Bauchi State government has, in its efforts to provide enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state recently awarded contract for the construction of road to the site of the project that has a big bridge at the cost of over N13 billion with 30% of the total cost already released to the contractor.
Bello revealed that the factory will have a lorry trailer park that would accommodate 3, 000 trailers, with each to be manned by at least two persons on occupier-owner basis, thus making a total of 6, 000 engaged persons on only transportation.
The commissioner further disclosed that the Gwana district, which is rich in other minerals such as lead, zinc, and coal, apart from oil and gas, Gipson, would have the factory use the coal to generate about 100 megawatts of electricity that would meet the factory’s needs, with even surplus to be extended to neighbouring communities and LGAs.
Hon. Maiwada Bello also revealed that contract for the establishment of the Alkaleri Oil & Gas Academy was also recently awarded at a cost of over N6 billion by the state government, as part of the efforts to facilitate the drilling of oil and gas already discovered in commercial quantity in the Barambu village, part of the Benue trough that encompasses both Bauchi and Gombe states.
Bello stated that oil drilling, which is expected to commence at the end of the first quarter or the second quarter of this year, is envisioned to land the states into the beneficiaries of the monthly 13 percent derivation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
