Gov. Fubara, Revisit Riv FOND Motor Scheme/Factory – Chief Eleazar

Given the huge economic benefit in transportation, the Rivers State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Monday Eleazar, has appealed to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to revisit and flag-off the proposed Rivers -FOND Motor Manufacturing Company Limited Scheme.
Chief Eleazar made this appeal last Thursday in an exclusive chat with National Point in Port Harcourt.
“I will like to appeal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara through the state commissioner for Transport, Dr. Jacobson Nbina, to revisit the proposed Rivers-FOND Motor Manufacturing Company Limited Scheme.”
Chief Eleazar explained that the concept which was initiated in 2021, was almost 70 percent a ‘done deal’ but could not start under the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike and the then commissioner for Transport, Chief Osimah Gina, due to the non-payment of N5million per vehicle for 1,000 vehicles.
“The scheme was almost 70 percent a done deal because I brought all the companies for the partnership but if the commissioner then had allowed us to meet with the then Governor Wike, Rivers State would have experienced economic boom in this sector because the company will be doing business and paying tax to the state government.”
The chairman stated that for the scheme to take off, the state Ministry of Environment and Transportation must be part of it.
According to him, the project was at the stage where the then commissioner for Transport was to push it to the governor for approval and consent because of the subsidy involved.
He appealed for the resurrection of the project.
“Because of the subsidy involved in this project, we are appealing to the state government to subsidize the full payment of this scheme.
“This is because the scheme will enable our members to change their vehicles to fit in with the new status of the Garden City.
“The scheme if completed, would provide jobs for the unemployed youth of Rivers State to acquire skills or learn trade at the factory”, Chief Eleazar pleaded.
He stated that the deal when commenced would attract a lot of benefits to residents of the state adding, that the FOND Motor Manufacturing Company would provide 1,000 vehicles as its initial take off.
Eleazar also appealed to the Commissioner for Works and the State Head of Service to revamp and renovate the state secretariat, describing its present state as a whale of shame and an eye sore.