Guardian

THE N24-billion float glass industry in Egi community, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (Onelga) of Rivers State, will employ 900 persons, President of Egi Peoples Assembly, Oris Onyiri, has disclosed.

Foreign investors, including the Mara Group (Uganda), the Ghani Group (the United States) and the JS Group of Pakistan, are major shareholders of the project while the community provides land and raw materials.

At the factory site in Ogbogu during the unveiling ceremony last week, Onyiri said the project would complement several economic activities conceived and developed by the Egi Economic Development team as well as efforts of Total Exploration and Production Company in developing the area.

He described the community as a regional trade hub, adding that the investment of Total, which started production in the area in 1962, has given birth to several investments in the country.

Onyiri said the community people have remained peaceful even though the majority of them are unemployed despite the huge investments in Egi.

He said the partnership with the foreign investors would improve the economic life of the people while boosting entrepreneurship in the area. He explained that the float glass company would rely on basic raw materials like silica and sombreiro, adding that the land is rich in natural endowments.

He urged the people to support the realisation of the project, expressing hope that over 250 graduates would be engaged directly and indirectly as the project expands.

The factory is expected to produce glasses used are used in offices, home and churches.