Indorama Host Community Embarks On N10bn Massive Road Projects

Aleto, the largest of the six host communities of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, has inaugurated an ambitious internal roads project that will cost more than N10 billion to execute.
The inauguration of the project was performed by the chairman of Eleme Local Government, Chief Obarilomate Ollor at a special ceremony at Olakamitiah Road, Aleto on Monday. The total length of the roads is put at 19.5 kilometres.
Ollomate said he was glad that the execution of the internal roads project was taking place during his tenure and urged the people of the community to make necessary sacrifices to see that the project turns out a success story.
The Oneh-Eh Eleme, HRM King Philip Obele, had earlier in his palace, said the money to be used for the execution of the roads was kept aside from the dividends paid to the community from their investment in Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited.
“It’s good that we did not share all money. It’s good that we kept aside something to develop the community. Let us unite to see that we take Aleto ahead,” the king said.
The member representing Eleme in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr. Aforji Igwe, said it was heartening that finally, the wealth of the community was being put into beneficial use for the people. He thanked Indorama, the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the government of Rivers State for keeping faith with the remittance of the dividends due to the community.
He however, appealed to the people to give the contractors a conducive atmosphere to operate.
Chairman of Aleto Clan Association Trust, managers of the Indorama dividends, Apostle George Sagbe, said with peace in Aleto, the projects and other programmes coming to the community would sit in well.
Mr. Cyrus Egbe, secretary of Aleto Clan Association Trust, said, “What we have seen today is a legacy in the history of our community. This is the first of its kind. We are embarking on about 19 kilometres of internal roads within Aleto community. This has never been done.”
Also speaking, the Managing director of Hajaig Construction Company Limited, Mr. Abbas Hajaig, promised to deliver the project on time and according to specifications. He urged members of the community to accept him as one of them.
Aleto holds 35% (percent) of the 7.5 percent of the equity shares of Indorama allotted to the host communities. It was not until 2012 that the communities began to draw their dividends after they paid the N2.925 billion price for the 7.5 percent shares.
Aleto was not able to draw from the dividends until 2017 when the dispute between the community and Akpajo over ownership of the lands acquired for setting up the Indorama complex was settled in court.