President Goodluck Jonathan has said the 5,555megawatt power plant located in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, would be commissioned soon to stem the lingering power supply problem in the area.
The President, who disclosed this during the groundbreaking of UNICEM’s additional plant of 2.5 million metric tonnes per annum in Mfamosing, Cross Ricer State, stated that government would continue to formulate friendly business policies that would attract businesses into the country.
President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, also maintained that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed for the dredging of the Calabar seaport and construction of a railway line from Lagos to Calabar, up to Obudu Mountain Resort.
He said government would also continue to cooporate with several agencies to ensure steady progress in the country’s manufacturing sector. He said the additional UNICEM plant of 2.5 million metric tonnes would help in stimulating the nation’s economic growth and improve the lives of the people within the area.
Speaking, Governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke, applauded the presidents’ transformation agenda, which had given impetus to attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.
Represented by the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Effiok Cohbam, Imoke said the additional 2.5 million metric tonnes cement plant would increase the production of cement in the state to 5 million metric tonnes per annum.
He said, “this, we believe, will reduce the supply gap that currently exists and reduce the cost of cement in the market. The building and construction industry will be a major beneficiary of this investment.”
Earlier, Chairman, of the board of United Cement Company of Nigeria Ltd. Mr. John Coumantaros, said the project would enhance the development of local capacity in terms of skills and support growth of the cement industry in the country.