IMO STATE GOVERNMENT REINVIGORATE ITS RUBBER INDUSTRIES

As part of measures to tackle global economic crisis arising from covid-19 pandemic, the Imo state government has taken steps to reclaim and reinvigorate its rubber industries that have left in the hands of greedy individuals.

Addressing newsmen during an inspection visit to a rubber plantation at Emeabiam in Owerri West local government area of the state, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Chief Kingsley Ononuju regretted that the rubber industries located at Emeabiam, Obiti and umuekwune communities had not yielded any revenue to the government in the last twenty years.

The Commissioner who intercepted tons of rubber tapped from the plantation at Emeabiam by those he referred to as illegal miners ordered that felling of trees and mining be halted at in area until government ascertained the true position of things in the industry. Chief Ononuju explained that government was exploring ways of boosting revenue to meet its obligations especially now that crude oil prices have crashed.

Chief Ononuju who later paid an unscheduled visit to the state’s palm oil processing industry, “Adapalm” located at Ohaji Egbema local government area of the state noted that government was committed to revamping the industry to actualize its full potential. Adapalm and rubber industries were established by the then Premier of Eastern Nigeria Dr. Micheal Okpara but have been left to rot by successive administrations in the state.

Chinazo Ilechukwu