The Federal Government has reiterated its pledge to encourage and support local industrialists to effectively drive the economy.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Richard Adebayo, gave the assurance while on facilities inspection at Lee Engineering and Construction Company on Wednesday in Warri.
Adebayo, while fielding questions from journalists, said that the idea of the inspection was to ascertain the challenges of industrialists, encourage and boost their confidence on the part of growth.
“The whole idea is to encourage our industrialists and give them the confidence that they have the support of the government,” he said.
The minister said that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised to get 100 million Nigerians out of poverty level, noting that the industrial sector was key to the realisation of the promise.
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According to him, the Federal Government was interested in creating jobs, adding that it would continue to encourage entrepreneurs to address unemployment challenges and also boost the nation’s foreign earnings.
“I have made it a duty to visit as many industries as possible to see how people are faring.
“The President said he was interested in getting over 100 million people out of poverty.
“And one of the ways by which this can be achieved is by encouraging our industrialists to create new industries and expand the ones they have.
“We are interested in Nigerians being employed.
“What we have seen so far in Lee Engineering, even though the equipment has not arrived, they have already sent young engineers abroad for training and intends to send more.
“Lee Engineering is doing a lot of work for the Oil and Gas Industry. The equipment they make is to facilitate the production of oil and gas.
“They are putting up a facility that will save the country millions of dollars in foreign exchange.
“By the time they complete the factory, it will create a situation where we will not have to import any more,” he said.
Adebayo, however, promised to visit as many industries as possible across the country to encourage them.
Responding, Mr Leemon Ikpea, the Executive Chairman of Lee Engineering said the ongoing construction work in the company was about 85 per cent completion.
Ikpea said that the project would provide additional direct job to at least 1000 persons when it fully comes on stream.
“By the time it is commissioned, we will give a minimum of 1,000 jobs in addition to what we have.
“We have just gone for the Safety Acceptance Test in Europe, at worst by February 2020, the place will be fully completed and we will do the test run.
“Pressure Vessels, High Heat Exchangers and some of the skills that you see in the Oil and Gas will no longer be imported.
“All these will be done here and will create a lot of jobs,” he said.
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