The Akwa Ibom State Authorities mentioned the foremost purpose the Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing, JSM, firm in Onna suspended its operations within the state was as a result of nationwide financial disaster rocking main companies in Nigeria.
Senior Particular Assistant to Governor Umo Eno on Analysis and Documentation, Dr Essien Ndueso, talking on Come up Akwa Ibom, a well-liked radio program in Uyo, on the weekend, blamed Nigeria’s present enterprise atmosphere for the continual exit of multinational corporations.
He mentioned it might be unreasonable for anybody to criticise Governor Umo Eno or his predecessor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, who introduced the corporate, over the short-term suspension of operations at JSM firm in Onna.
Recall that JSM, inaugurated in 2017 by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had on January 3, 2024, introduced a short lived suspension of its operations, citing unexpected circumstances affecting enterprise operations in Nigeria.
Some critics blamed the governor and his predecessor, Emmanuel for the exit of the corporate which was referred to as the biggest syringe manufacturing firm in Africa.
However, Essien mentioned such criticisms had been focused at scoring low-cost political factors from the unlucky state of affairs, noting that different multinational corporations akin to GSK Plc, Nigeria’s second-biggest drug producer, GlaxoSmithKline and Unilever, producers of well-known manufacturers like OMO, Daylight and Lux have additionally introduced stop of operations as a result of harsh enterprise terrain they had been grappling with.
“Everyone knows that because the elimination of gasoline subsidy, Nigeria is present process a severe financial disaster. International alternate, import duties, and rates of interest are principally the explanations corporations are closing down in Nigeria.
“Exterior Akwa Ibom State, a number of SMEs, in keeping with reviews, have fully shutdown operations whereas a number of massive names have additionally scaled again operations. Studies on Enterprise Day newspaper point out that corporations like GSK Plc, Nigeria’s second-biggest drug producer, GlaxoSmithKline, and Unilever, producers of well-known manufacturers like OMO, Daylight and Lux, have additionally introduced stop of operations,” he mentioned.
On the criticism in opposition to the worldwide worship centre in Uyo, Essien mentioned there was nothing mistaken in having a befitting central place of worship in Akwa Ibom State, which is 99 per cent dominated by Christians.
“Earlier than the Worship Centre was constructed, Akwa Ibom individuals, who’re devoted Christians, used to collect beneath the solar at Ibom Corridor grounds to reward God and for all different spiritual actions.
“For individuals who say that the cash used to construct a befitting temple of God would have been channelled into different issues, let me ask; these states that haven’t constructed worldwide worship centres, have they got free and obligatory schooling? Have they got higher roads than Akwa Ibom State? Have they got extra peace than our pricey Akwa Ibom State? In what manner are they higher than Akwa Ibom State?
“When individuals discuss era of income, have they instructed us how the Statue of Liberty within the US generates income?
“The identical individuals who collect yearly to supply for funds and visas to journey to the Center East to go and worship God at the moment are turning round to criticize a befitting centre of worship that will engender spiritual tourism by our individuals.
“If the federal government in a State named after God ought to not construct a centre of worship for God, would they somewhat have constructed a shrine?” Essien queried.