Newsfront Online …Telling the Public as it is
The MIMSHAC-MERKAVIM Automobile Plant in Akwa Ibom State will be ready for commissioning within the first half of next year.
The automobile plant was one of the pioneer industries that the governor flagged off in 2015 and Governor Emmanuel is determined to ensure that the factory commences operations by May 29,2021.
Mr. Emmanuel, accompanied by some members of his executive council, visited the vehicle Assembly Plant at Ikot Ukap, Itu Local Government Area, where he extracted commitment from the top Management of the Company handling the project, Mimshac Transportation Technologies, that the project will be completed in six months.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Economic Development and Ibom Deep Seaport, Mr. Akan Okon, who spoke to journalists following the Governor’s visit, assured that arrangement was underway for not less than twenty youths from the state to embark on training in Israel for technology transfer. The training of the student sent abroad will last for 6 weeks and they would become experts in automobile assembling.
The Commissioner added that the project, when completed will draw a lot of economic developments to the state in terms of job creation and revenue generation. “The whole gamut of economic activities associated with such industry will be experienced in the state.’
The Managing Director, Engr. Valentino Okorie explained that his company is waiting to take delivery of Complete Knock Down (CKD) and Semi Knock Down (SKD) components to facilitate the take off of the factory.
The Managing Director assured that the last set of components for the factory will arrive before December, assuring that it will be the largest vehicle assembling plant in the country. “The facility is at 90% completion, and it is the first car assembling plant in the South South region of Nigeria.
“Very soon, over 3000 direct staff would be employed and 25 sent abroad for a 6 weeks training in automobile assembling. The automobile plant has 6 production lines with a capacity to chun out 5 conventional vehicles, 18 cars/ SUVs, 13 mini buses, 9 midi buses, 5 luxurious buses. A total production of 108 cars/SUVs, 56 buses in two weeks. 30 Luxurious buses and conventional vehicles in 1 month”, Okorie concluded.
