The Delta Government says it has concluded plans to partner with a Chinese firm to build a vehicle assembly plant at Issele-Uku in the Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.
Chief Afam Obiago, Economic Adviser to Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who made the announcement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday, said the plant would create no fewer than 5,000 jobs when completed.
Obiago said the government had secured some hectares of land in the community for the project, adding that it was being projected that the plant would be completed in 18 months.
He said that documentation processes for the award of the contract were being concluded, expressing optimism that the project would begin soon.
“We are envisaging that on three-shift bases, we will be providing about 5,000 jobs in the first phase for junior, semi-skilled and skilled workers, when the plant becomes operational.
“And from work so far done on the processes for commencement of the project, we are looking at the next 18 months and there will be a plant standing at Issele-Uku,” he said.
He said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a feasibility study to determine the cost of the project would soon be ready.
“We are to do a feasibility study and a business plan to determine the aggregate amount that would be committed into the project.
“There is also an MOU that has been sent to us which we have sent to the Attorney-General’s office for vetting and as soon as that is ready, we will invite our partners to sign the MOU.
“But in principle, the State Government is highly interested in the motor assembly plant because of its employment generation potential,” Obiago said. (NAN)