The dream of generating about 1200 direct and indirect employment by an indigenous company at the Eraskorp Industrial Park, Gbarain, in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has been cut short by erosion which has forced the company to halt its operations.
The company spearheaded construction work at the Eraskon Lubricant/ Chemicals Blending Plant Project, an integrated manufacturing complex.
The project was conceived to deepen Nigeria’s industrial capacity, promote local content development, reduce dependence on imported lubricants and packaging materials and create substantial employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Promoted by a former commissioner for energy and one-time chairman of the central zone of the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, Maxwell Oko, the 128,000-litre per day lubricant / chemicals blending plant was envisioned to produce various grades of engine oils, hydraulic oils, break fluids, radiator coolants, fuel injection cleaners, gear oils, industrial lubricants, marine lubricants and synthetic lubricants.
In March 2022, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, a former Nigerian president, had performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the construction work, where he expressed the hope that the project would address the jobs deficit issue in the state and also open up the state for more investments.
But four years after, erosion menace has thwarted the dreams of the company, leading to huge financial losses and dashed hopes for the community youths and elders who had expected to benefit from job opportunities.
A visibly unhappy Oko, who conducted Oboku Oforji, the member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives round the erosion ravaged facility lamented that banks were on their neck for repayment of the loans taken for the project.
While conducting the lawmaker round, Oko said the project which sits on 45 hectares of land, which had reached 90 percent completion was to be commissioned in 2022, but was stalled by the erosion crisis.
The Erasko chairman recounted that a factory building which was over 85 percent done was completely submerged by the erosion and now threatening to destroy the twin two million litres storage tanks already erected.
Oko noted that the company had incurred a loss of over N500 billion which it would have made if the project had been completed four years ago, as envisaged.
“As you can see from my left, we have about 30 containers of our process equipment that we couldn’t install due to the erosion crisis that took out our steel sheet piles.
“The building that was already eighty-five percent completion stage, half roofed, was taken out. All the building piles taken out. We have to deroof the building and dismantle the entire steel structure as you can see from the far end behind you.”
On his part, the paramount ruler of Obunagha, HRH Yeseibo Peremobowei, expressed discomfort over the havoc caused by the erosion. He said it was painful that the flood had crippled the multi-billion-naira production plant sited in the area, which was expected to create job opportunities for his people.
The paramount ruler who was also at the project site, pleaded with the federal government to intervene and save the company from total collapse.
Noting that his community would benefit greatly from the project when completed, the monarch expressed sadness over the level of damage already done to the facility by the river surge.
“We have been very happy and grateful to the company for citing this gigantic project in our territory, given the benefits that our people will enjoy upon its completion.
“But we are, however, sad that this huge investment is facing serious challenge of erosion.
“I am aware that there was a very big building at the other side but has been chopped off into the river by the erosion. We were told that it was the factory building.
“In the same vein, the erosion is fast approaching those two big tanks which we were told each has 2 million-litre storage capacity.
“Both the federal and state governments should take urgent action to save this laudable project from destruction,” the paramount ruler submitted, calling on the government to hire the services of erosion prevention and control experts to save the facility.
During the facility tour, Oforji who was equally very sad on seeing the extent of damage to the facility, had also drawn the federal government’s attention to the erosion which has already submerged a good chunk of the project site, forcing the owners to dismantle structures had already been built there.
Oforji expressed deep concern over the importance of the project and said it must not be allowed to be destroyed by erosion.
The federal lawmaker stated that the project, when completed, would not only generate employment and curb insecurity but would also generate revenue for the federal and Bayelsa State governments.
He promised to draw the attention of his colleagues to handle the situation as a matter of urgent public importance.
Describing the project as capital intensive, Oforji said he would raise a motion calling for the release of ecological funds for the urgent remediation of the erosion-threatened project.
“I commend the chairman of Erasko Energy Limited for putting up this huge capital intensive project. It is out of resilience that you are still here, looking at the magnitude of the challenges that are before us.
“Our state and the federal government, as a matter of urgency, should take this issue much more than serious, particularly the erosion issue because the revenue will go to the state and the federal government.
“Also, the state government, as a matter of urgent public importance, should do something because if this project is protected, Bayelsans are also protected.
“I am still very empathetic that the federal government, as a matter of urgent public importance, should look into this issue.
“I want to reassure the chairman of Erasko Energy Limited that I will take on this matter on the floor of parliament.
