Gov Eno Orders Relocation Of Chinese Factory Over Pollution

Worried by the toxic fumes and the attendant environmental pollution threatening the residents of the host communities of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, Governor Umo Eno, has ordered a detailed investigation into the activities of a Chinese firm, Golden Tripod Limited (GTL), manufacturing vehicle parts including brake shoes along Ikot Ekpene road, and its immediate relocation to the Ibom Industrial Park in Itam, Itu Local Government Area.

Governor Eno gave the order while flagging off the construction of a 2.2Km Tabernacle Road project, off Ikot Ekpene road, traversing Itu and Uyo LGAs.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the order is predicated on reports of environmental pollution from the factory following directive to the Commissioner for Environment, and that of Internal Security, to avail him with a report on activities of the factory within 48 hours, and demanded that the factory be moved to the industrial park which is an appropriate location for such ventures.

He said: “Commissioner for Environment, and Commissioner for Internal Security, I want to have a report on what this factory manufactures in the next 48 hours. I understand that there is always serious emissions around here. Please first of all find out what they do and immediately relocate them to the industrial park. It is not proper to cite factories in the middle of a city.”

He, therefore, urged investors establishing industries in the state to utilize the industrial park, assuring that with the new innovations from the government, the park would provide a veritable environment for industries to thrive.

The Governor said: “That park has been partitioned into 150 plots of between four thousand and five thousand square meters. What we are saying is that those who are ready to establish industries should come and analyse the kind of industry they intend to create. They will tell us the time frame and the number of people that will be employed, and we will then allocate lands for them.

“We are going to fence it round. We will put a police station there, we are going to get a power station to be there, we will make water available too. It will be like any industrial park anywhere in the world so that when we look at your project, we can allocate a land for you there,” he stressed.

The Governor also assured that his administration will utilize the Industrial Park to support entrepreneurship to checkmate capital flight in the state, reaffirming that all clothing to support the education innovations of his administration will be produced by Akwa Ibom youths through the various skill acquisition programmes and support by state government.

“We want to move and motivate our young people to be able to have what to do. We will ensure that when you finish your training in the Ibom Leadership Entrepreneurial Centre, we will provide you with a shop in the industrial park and provide you necessary equipments and tools to start practicing what you learn.”