…Commands Itsekiri business tycoon, Ayiri Emami on tank farm project, mega gas station inauguration
Former governor of Edo state and Senate Committee Chairman on Interior, Senator Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, said that the withdrawal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t only impact the economy positively but have made many young people self reliance by way of self development and investment in sector that is also impacting on the economy.
Oshiomhole noted that with the removal of subsidy, the era of depending on one friend in corridor of power to turn a billionaire overnight was gone, saying that it’s either you work, sell and make profit or become redundant and perish.
He spoke on Friday while inspecting a multi-billion naira tank farm built by an Itsekiri businessman and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Ayirimi Emami in Ifie and commissioning a mega fuel station within Garage area, an ever busy area of Warri South local government area of Delta state.
According to the Sun News, the former national chairman of the APC who took facility tour of the A & E Tank Farm before inaugurating the gas station, while commending Chief Ayirimi for establishing the mega gas station in the heart of Warri, said the project was a ‘vote of confidence on the oil policy of President Bola Tinubu’.
He said that the project was very significant to the economy of Warri because Chief Ayirimi Emami, made the investment after the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said has created a level playing ground for all in the Nigeria’s economy.
Oshiomole said; “I am very impressed by what I’ve seen. It takes a lot of courage and foresight to impress such a place that is swampy and turn it to an economic hub.
“It is significant that he is making this investment after the removal of petrol subsidy.
“I believe his action is a vote of confidence on the policy that President Bola Tinubu has put in place which effectively means that Tinubu has put an end to the regime that if you have a friend in the oil system they can turn you to a billionaire overnight, without effort, just by sheer favour and connection and sometimes political bias.
“Now with the withdrawal of subsidy, you either work, sell and prosper or you don’t and you perish.
“This is the level playing field that President Tinubu has created by the policy”.
Senator Oshiomhole commended Chief Emami for investing in Nigeria at a time many young people are leaving the country, describing Emami as “best ambassador in the industrial sub sector.”
“It is to show what the young people can do, not lamenting about not been given opportunity.
“I think Chief has shown that it is not about somebody coming to pity you and help you out and turning obstacles to opportunities. In the process you pulling people out of unemployment and putting them into work.
“There are no longer huge industries that employ thousands of people.
“Nigerians have never sat down to ask themselves how come they are not seeing the opportunities in Nigeria but the Lebanese, the Indians are coming in droves to find jobs because they have destroyed the economy in Lebanon. Let’s not cry, go for opportunities.
“This is vote of confidence on President Bola Tinubu’s oil policy. With more people like you, fewer people would cry”, the two term Edo former governor added.
Delta State Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori , who was represented by the State Commissioner for Oil and Gas , Chief Vincent Oyibode, commended Chief Emami for building the gas station, noting that it would create jobs for people in the State.
The governor, however called on other Deltans to emulate the gesture by investing in the state. “This has contributed to the economic boom of Delta state. The tank farm is a huge facility. We want more investment of these magnitude. Like the small scale business, it creates multiplier effects on the economy”.
The Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr. Michael Tidi, who addressed newsmen shortly after the facility was inaugurated, lauded Chief Ayirimi Emami for investing in Warri.
“In 2018, we called on sons and daughters of Warri South to invest in the town. This retail outlet will not only service the people of Warri, but provide jobs. It goes to show that Oborevwori is doing a lot to make businesses to thrive and creating the enabling environment for investors in Delta State.”
In his remarks, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A&E Group, Chief Ayirimi Emami, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for having the courage in implementing the removal of fuel subsidy and appealed to the President to help ease the burden of transporting petroleum products from Escravos to Warri.
“Taking off the subsidy is very good, it makes everyone go into competitive business. But we still have a lot to do, some of the bottlenecks in the policy we have to remove them.
“Those of us that are traders in Warri are suffering a lot because of the Escravos bar mouth. Getting vessel in, the Governor is aware, the president is aware, the cost of bringing products to Warri is more expensive than in Rivers and Lagos state because of our channel.
Once that is done for us, you will see fuel everywhere at a cheaper rate because we have to put all these into our cost when ferrying products to Warri.
“We are selling for N640. You know the business fluctuates and the market is open. For us to be in business…
We are going to give the actual price. A&E, we don’t manipulate our pumps, it’s what you pay for that you get”, he assured.
The member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi, Chief Mike Odeli, Chief Vincent Okudolor and other Chiefs in Agbarah – Warri, representative of Papa Ayodele Oritsejafor, Reverend Sam Akpoviroro and other prominent personalities, graced the colourful ceremony.
