By Onwukwe Ezeru
Special Correspondent, Umuahia
Both Abuja and states have been urged to take the country back to agriculture to earn foreign exchange and help eradicate poverty.
Chris Igwe, the chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mainland Oil and Gas Company, made the plea at the flag off of 6.5 kilometres of roads in Amuda Isuochi, Abia State, which the company is building in partnership with the state government.
He urged the federal and state governments to explore other mineral resources apart from oil, and to go into agriculture to ensure food security for an average Nigerian.
This, in his view, will “also solve the problem of unemployment, poverty and there will not be insecurity again in the country.”
Igwe said the company is partnering with Abia State to carry out social responsibility and also support Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to upgrade living standards in rural areas.
He disclosed that he decided to invest in agriculture and give loans to Abians to facilitate production of crops for export to earn foreign exchange.
Mainland Oil plans five production lines in Abia in conjunction with Chinese partners. It also wants to build a recycling plant to turn waste cans into money, as well as a cassava processing plant.
Mainland Oil is a subsidiary of Chrisnac Group which is into agro-allied industries, aviation, and real estate.
Igwe said the company is helping to create jobs because “the government cannot do it alone. So we want to contribute our quota as our social responsibility.”
He expressed regret that companies make money in Nigeria and put it in their pocket, whereas “when you make money in Nigeria, it is your responsibility to contribute and this is one of the ways we want to contribute and we are starting from our home state as charity begins at home.”
