From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
The General Manager of Louis Carter Industries Limited, Nnewi, Anambra State, Engr Ndubisi Okoli has sent a Save-Our-Soul message to both Federal and Anambra State government to come to the rescue of the company to enable it reinstate over 40 workers rendered jobless because of the fire incident that had reduced a section of the company to rubbles.
Engr Okoli spoke to journalists yesterday, who visited his company for an on-the-spot assessment of the extent of damage to the manufacturing firm. He said that the workers had been milling around with no job to do as the company remained in confusion as to how to handle the situation.
He said that the saving grace would be immediate intervention of both the State and Federal governments with financial support to re-acquire some burnt equipment and to rebuild the section of the factory that was reduced to rubbles by the inferno.
“Sometimes the workers, since after the incident, come in the morning and hang around to see what the company has to tell them. It is pathetic indeed and we cannot easily redeploy them to other sections of the company where there are already workers.
“They are eager to work but their section has been razed by fire. Most of them are married youths with young families. Do we allow them to go back to society again to start causing havoc and all sorts of things because of joblessness. The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chief Louis Onwugbenu is worried and we are thinking of what to do, ” he said.
Engr Okoli noted that government could assist the company in diverse ways including reconstruction of the access road that led to the company at Akaboukwu Uruagu, Nnewi and also support the company financially to rebuild the section of the factory as well as replace the production machines.
He said that the company as a result of the fire outbreak had lost well over N500 million excluding the cost of the building that he said would be reconstructed from foundation to finish “because the building is completely destroyed by the fire.”
He explained that the company is a multi- product manufacturer of versatile plastic products and auto components that had been contributing meaningfully to the economy of Anambra State and the nation generally. He noted that this was more reason it should be assisted to continue in its contribution to economic development and job creation in the State.