Asagba of Asaba Tasks Corporate Organizations on Local Content, CSR
CORPORATE organizations and contracting firms executing projects in Asaba have been urged not to ignore the provision for local content in their contractual agreements.
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, made the call when the Managing Director/CEO of North China Construction Nigeria Limited, Dr. Osadebe Osakwe, paid him a courtesy visit.
The Asagba said such a provision was always there for a purpose, which must not be overlooked, in order to increase local skills, promote cordial relationships between the contractors and the communities and minimize capital flight.
He maintained that he would like to see a certain percentage of local involvement by contractors working in Asaba, in the area of jobs for indigenes of not just the community, but also Aniocha/Oshimili and indeed the Anioma nation.
His Royal Majesty commended North China Construction Company for the execution of landmark projects in Asaba, including the Prof Chike Edozien Secretary and a six-lane concrete road soon to be completed and challenged the firm to make its presence felt in the community in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility.
“It’s one of those things that we try to figure out when we talk to corporate bodies working in our land. What have you given back to this land? Multi – billion, multi – trillion contracts. Yes, but we want to see your Corporate Social Responsibility demonstrated in one form or the other. That again is what we should be interfacing and engaging in terms of conversation to know how things can pan out ultimately.
“I say this because I sit on the throne representing a people. The welfare of the people of Asaba is uppermost in my mind and that is the oath I have sworn; to preserve and protect the interests of my people, and for me to do otherwise will be sacrilegious because I sit on the throne of our ancestors.
“So, the idea I’m trying to espouse is not personal to me. Once the interests of our people are taken care of, I’m good to go. So I support you, I identify with you, I will walk the journey with you because all I have been trying to achieve since ascending the throne is to ensure that we attract investment and other things that will help us to brand Asaba.
“That’s why whenever I have the opportunity I try to talk about the transportation model around us, which is totally hopeless and useless. We cannot be thinking of building a multi-trillion-naira water front and the best transportation system we can afford in a state capital is Keke. It doesn’t resonate, it doesn’t at all.
“We should be thinking of matching things. I’m happy you are also talking about tourism because as a community we are also working on making Asaba a tourist destination. I’m sure before yours comes on board, we would have been able to achieve that because we are looking at some of our sites; the Lander Brothers Anchorage, the Mongo Park building, the Marine beach. On our own we are trying to engage people who can help us, beyond what you are doing to see if there can be big sites around us.
“I know ultimately you will get there in what you are doing, but the other areas that are not within your domain, we are also trying to see what we can do there. So, we are not resting, we are working round the clock and I’m happy that at least you are a brother and one that we are so proud of”, Asagba Prof Azinge said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Onicha-Ugbo-born North China Construction Company MD, Dr. Osadebe Osakwe, said the firm had been in Asaba, with Prof Chike Edozien Secretariat as its flagship project.
The MD told the Asagba that the company defied the challenges of COVID-19, EndSARS protest and the then economic recession to deliver the project and was currently handling a six-lane concrete road in Asaba, which was near completion.
He disclosed plans to create a ₦3-trillion economic hub on the Asaba water front, with the cost of development, reclamation and infrastructure put at over ₦400 billion, explaining that the concept design had been done and that it would be a vertical city where people would live, work and play.
Dr. Osakwe added that the concept, with 15 percent equity for government, 5 percent for the Asaba community and 85 percent for the private sector, had the potential of attracting an additional ₦2 trillion economic hub and would be developed in three phases, over a period of ten years, in partnership with Oxford.
He solicited the Asagba’s support for the project, promising to regularly brief him on the progress made, while apologising for bringing the concept to the King’s knowledge late.
(GALLANT REPORTERS)
