News
Amaechi Kick-Starts $30m Pet Plant At Indorama
The Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday inaugurated a $30million world-class Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Plant built by Indorama Group at Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, in Eleme, near Port Harcourt.
While commissioning the 86,000 tonnes per year largest PET Plant in Sub-Sahara Africa, Amaechi insisted that only industrialisation and job creation would stem the tide of crime in the country.
The governor, who commended Indorama for the prompt completion of the new PET Plant, few months after it announced an investment portfolio of $2billion for PET, fertiliser and methanol projects in the next five years, said the projects would go a long way in helping the country realise its vision 2020 goals.
According to him, “key to us as a government is expansion of the state’s economic base, and the fact that Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals will create new employment opportunities for our people. We believe that as more industries spring up in the state, we will be able to reduce the crime rate, and once you create employment opportunities, you put those opportunities in the hands of Rivers people”.
He advised Eleme people not to take any action that could frustrate smooth operations of the petrochemicals company, warning that the law to deal with anyone who disturbs the operations of any company would be invoked on trouble makers in any part of the state.
Amaechi commended Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals for discharging its corporate social responsibilities to its host community, and urged the management to continue in that spirit.
Speaking, Group Managing Director of Indorama Corporation, Amit Lohia said the new PET Plant has capacity for producing 86,000 metric tonnes of PET resins per annum, adding that Indorama’s dream was to turn Nigeria into a net exporter of PET resins.
Lohia stated that for now, Nigeria imports 100 per cent of its local demand for PET resins, and pledged that very soon, Indorama’s PET production would cover all local demand and exports to neighbouring African countries.
“Our new PET Plant has capacity to help Nigeria to save a whopping $140million from import substitution,” stressing that polyethylene terephthalate, is raw materials highly needed by the plastics, foods, beverages, pharmaceuticals, breweries and allied industries.
According to him, application of PET is largely in bottles for table water, aerated water, fruit juices, drugs, beers, beverages, among others.
The Indorama group managing director noted that PET Plant was the second in Africa, the first, a 120,000 metric tonnes capacity plant located in South Africa, while the Indorama PET Plant is the first in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Lohia said Africa’s total demand for PET resins stood at 500,000 metric tonnes per annum, emphasising that even with Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals’ 86,000 metric tonnes per annum and South Africa’s 120,000 metric tonnes per annum, African continent still has growth potentials of over 300,000 metric tonnes of PET resins.
Managing Director, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Manish Mundra, listed the success story of Indorama since it acquired the Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited in 2006 through the privatisation programme of the Federal Government, adding that “we are committed to our investments in Nigeria.”
Mundra said that Indorama was operating an excellent model of public private partnership in which case the petrochemicals company was now owned by core investor with 65 per cent stake, Federal Government through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Bureau of Public Procurement (BPE) with 15 per cent, Rivers State Government with 10 per cent share, host community (7.5 per cent) and employees (2.5 per cent).
Also speaking, Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Rivers State branch, Mrs Emilia Akpan, said the coming on stream of the Indorama PET Plant was a major boost to Nigeria’s quest for industrialisation.
Nelson Chukwudi
President Bola Tinubu has expressed confidence that the country would win the fight against insecurity.
The President gave the assurance at the Argungu International Fishing Festival in Argungu town, Kebbi State, on Saturday.
He noted that the relative peace currently being enjoyed in Kebbi and neighbouring states was the result of sustained investments in security intelligence, coordination among security agencies, and community engagement.
Tinubu assured farmers and fishermen of sustained federal support to guarantee food security and safety across the country.
“The peace we are witnessing today is not accidental. It is the outcome of deliberate and sustained efforts. I assure you that the fight against banditry, insurgency, and insecurity will be won.
“Our farmers, fishermen, traders, and families will go about their lawful activities without fear,” he assured.
The President commended the organisers of the festival for sustaining the cultural event for decades, noting that it had endured for 83 years despite social and security challenges.
Describing the Argungu festival as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, Tinubu stated that it reflects the richness of the country’s culture and the opportunities to harness its natural and human resources for national growth.
He said, “Today, this festival stands as a powerful symbol of unity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence among our people.
“It reflects the richness of our culture, the strength of our traditions, and the opportunities inherent in harnessing our natural and human resources for national development.”
The President was received by a large crowd of residents, traditional rulers, fishermen, tourists, and government officials from across the country.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth and women empowerment, irrigation development, rural electrification, and agricultural productivity.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, said his administration was determined to elevate the Argungu Fishing Festival to full international standards while pursuing aggressive development across critical sectors of the state.
The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed today, in observance of Presidents’ Day.
The mission made this known in a notice shared on its official X page, yesterday.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026, in observance of Presidents’ Day,” the post read.
According to the embassy, Presidents’ Day was originally established to honour the birthday of the former US President, George Washington, but has evolved into a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents and their leadership in shaping the country’s history.
The embassy noted that the holiday also recognises the influence of U.S. presidents on global affairs.
In a related message, the mission highlighted that Washington created the first “Badge of Military Merit,” which later became the Purple Heart. The medal still bears Washington’s image today.
Presidents’ Day is observed on the third Monday of February annually in the United States as a federal holiday.
News
Guterres Backs Nigeria’s Bid For UN Security Council Seat …Hails Tinubu’s Reforms, Regional Security Role
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has charged Nigeria with spearheading Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres, who backed Nigeria’s bid for the world body’s security council seat, also praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions, despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN scribe made the remarks last Friday night during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the meeting, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism placed it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” he said.
The UN Secretary-General and the vice president discussed key developments in Nigeria and the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration to advance global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and a coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in advancing global peace, noting that Africa has benefited immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” the vice president said.
Shettima also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Both leaders pledged to deepen cooperation, with Guterres reaffirming the UN’s support for Nigeria’s reform agenda and its growing leadership role in advancing peace, security, and development across Africa.