Warri youth leader and Akulagba of Warri kingdom, Chief Ayirimi Emami, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to commence work on the multibillion dollar Gas Revolution Industrial Park (GRIP) and the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project, in Warri South-West Local Government Area.
Chief Ayirimi, in a letter addressed to the president and made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, said if the projects were kick-started, they would engender peace in the Niger Delta.
According to him, the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project would be directly beneficial to the indigenous people of Warri South-West Local Government Area.
“The determination of your administration to diversify the economy from being solely dependent on crude oil and gas to agriculture/agro allied, solid minerals, manufacturing and other forms of non-oil sources of income, is, indeed, heartwarming. It is an assurance that a great future awaits the largest black nation in the world.
“There is the need to humbly appeal to Your Excellency to give serious attention to renewed calls for work to recommence at the Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Ogidigben, Warri South-West Local Government Area and the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project, also in the oil-rich local government area.
“Inasmuch as no excuse will be accepted for anyone to partake in crime and criminal activities, it is, however, pertinent to stress that the ongoing strides by the military hierarchy and distinguished members of the Federal Executive Council on the Niger Delta issue, apparently on Your Excellency’s directive, will achieve the desired result if construction work resumes at the Gas Revolution Industrial Park, Ogidigben as well as the Escravos Environs Power Supply Project.
“The over $16 billion GRIP Project billed to accommodate a major Industrial Gas Hub, Petrochemical, Methanol as well as Fertilizer Plant will create over 150, 000 direct and indirect jobs at the construction stage and set the tone for the eagerly anticipated diversification of our economy,” Ayirimi observed.
The oil and gas business mogul, however, appealed to Buhari “to dutifully follow the roadmap for the development of the Niger Delta and pay less attention to self-styled leaders, who do not care about the ordinary people of the region.”
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