Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, has called on the governors of the South-East to revive moribund industries in the zone.
He said this on Wednesday while fielding questions from Journalists in Enugu.
According to him, this has been the philosophy of Ohanaeze that moribund industries in the zone should be revived to provide employment and bring back the economy of the zone.
He said that in the past the economy of the zone was booming with economic potentialities, providing jobs for the zone and other Nigerians.
“Take Enugu State for instance, several years ago there used to be industries like sunrise flour mill, Nigercem, Avop at Nnachi, Niger gas, Hotel Presidential among others.
“But surprisingly, all these things are no longer in existence,” he said.
He further lamented the extinction of Nkalagu Cement Factory in the present day Ebonyi, saying it would have been competing with others in the current rising cement price.
“Nkalagu used to be a beehive of activities in the sixties but go there now nothing is happening there,” he said.
Ogbonnia said that the raw materials that exist in the areas were still intact and wasting away untapped.
“Incidentally, the raw materials are still there to revive these moribund industries.
“Look at the Coal in Enugu State; presently all over the world, Coal is highly priced but today you see the coal abandoned, nobody is happy at all,” he said.
The Ohanaeze spokesperson said that the matter was in the main agenda of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s leadership of the Igbo apex group.
According to him: “We have talked about it; we also have engaged the governors at various levels urging them to commence the activation of moribund industries in the South-East,” he said.
