The River State council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has attributed the rapid growth and expansion of the Onne Port in Eleme Local Government Area of the state to the huge financial commitment by Intels Nigeria Limited towards its development.
The port, which houses the Onne Oil/Gas Free Zone, has over170 companies and is described as the fastest growing free one in the world.
The TUC Chairman, Comrade Chika Onuegbu told newsmen during a tour of facilities at the free Trade Zone that the development of the port by Intels has added value to the Nigerian economy.
Onuegbu stressed the need for the Federal Government to look into the concessions of
Port Harcourt Port and Wharf, which the concessionaires had refused to develop, thereby leading to the diversion of cargoes to Lagos Ports.
The TUC chairman, who said that Onne will soon overtake Port Harcourt, if the current pace of infrastructural development at the Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone as sustained said that Intels Nigeria Limited was laying a solid foundation for the development of a new city in the state.
Onuegbu stressed the need for the federal and state governments to leverage on what the company was doing at the Onne axis of the state with a view to improving on the lives of the people.
“What I see in Onne is quite commendable. Intels is developing a bustling town that may outgrow Port Harcourt in the next ten years”, he said.
The TUC chairman said that the visit was to see what the management of Intels was doing at the free zone, adding that the company must be commended for the feat so far recorded in the area.
Meanwhile, Intels Nigeria Limited says, it is currently running a scholarship programme for the physically challenged in its host communities.
The Public Relations Officer of the company, Mr Sambol Isidore, said this during an interactive session, with council members of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the company’s office in Onne.
Isidore also said that the company is running a graduate and primary schools scholarship, while plans are on for a post graduate scholarship for indigenes of its host communities abroad.
According to him, hundreds of students are benefitting yearly from secondary school scholarship, while 80 students are in the university scholarship.
He said that Intels has also carried out major development projects around its operational areas, pointing out that some of these projects include, the International Market Project in Ogu, the Stadium Complex in Ogu and the grading of roads in Onne communities.
Isidore said that Intels was poised to do more for its host communities.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has commended the management of integrated Logistic Service (Intels) Limited for its labour-friendly policies.
Chairman of the council, Mr. Chika Onuegbu, who said this during an interactive session with the company’s management in Onne, said that the company’s friendly policies has not compelled it to sack workers despite the downturn in the economy.
Onuegbu called on concessionaries to keep to their Concession Agreements, so as to avoid a breach of the law setting up the Oil and Gas Free Zone.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after an inspection of facilities at the zone, the TUC chairman also called on the Federal Government to revoke the Concession Agreement for the Port Harcourt Wharf and Port.
He said that not keeping to the terms of the concession agreement in respect of the Oil and Gas Free Zone could lead to unemployment.
The TUC chairman said that the Free Zone was made for Oil and Gas, adding that taking Oil and Gas business to private jetties or Lagos could lead to crisis.
“The industry is between the NNPC and the Oil and Gas Companies. The concessions should remain in line with the agreement”.
He also said that the union was worried that the concessions for Port Harcourt was not investing to deepen its business, adding that was why cargoes are now going to Lagos.
According to him, the sooner the concession arrangement is reviewed, the better for the Port Harcourt Port, stressing that it was affecting business in Port Harcourt.
Onuegbu also called on the government to leverage on the Women Empowerment Synergy Scheme being run by Intels to develop the textile industry in the country as is being done in Indonesia.
He urged the management of the company to continue to do its best to improve the lot of the common man.