Mohammed Ibrahim, the general manager of BUA Ports and Terminal Limited in Port Harcourt, said the BUA group of companies is doing business in Rivers State.
The general manager described the business environment in Rivers State as “very conducive” during a courtesy visit by Energy and Maritime Reporters (EMR) last week in Port Harcourt, Rivers state. He cited good road infrastructure, especially between the last administration in the state and the current administration.
However, he noted that there are challenges posed by unauthorised government agencies and inappropriate community demands.
“These are normal things,” he said, adding, “but since we’ve come to sit here permanently, we’ve also built up a team that’s able to manage all these challenges, whether from communities or government agencies asking for one thing or another, or even from people posing as government officials.”
The GM advised those who are in the habit of cooking up demands to stop doing so and instead appreciate what businesses like BUA’s have come to do in the state, noting that the BUA group is on the ground in the state and stands up to different task forces enforcing different demands.
Illegitimate harassment, he claims, occurs occasionally and is more common in the Niger Delta than elsewhere in the country.
He cited the example of titled chiefs confronting the company to express their dissatisfaction with ships destroying their community’s fishing nets.
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“There are basic things to understand here,” he said in response to counsel. Water channels are shared-use channels, and the government has the right of way over them. You don’t put fishing nets in common user channels where international cruise ships pass.”
Ibrahim suggested that people’s attitudes toward businesses need to be reoriented.
“They should see businesses as partners in progress, providing excellent opportunities for their employees and helping to develop their community.”
“In terms of business, Lagos is doing well because it doesn’t face the same challenges that we do here.” People will know that these companies that are coming will bring positive economic development to the state if they are properly informed.”
He also praised Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike for frequently cautioning communities against interfering with business operations.
He stated, “That attitude will change a lot of things.” “We are standing and doing more because we are at home in Rivers State.”
He claims that BUA creates a lot of jobs, both directly and indirectly, and that it is a 100% Nigerian company with many subsidiaries.
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BUA operates flour mills and produces pasta, spaghetti, semolina, and other flour-based products in addition to its bulk cargo ports and terminals.
It also owns sugar plants in Rivers and other states, as well as a petroleum refinery and a cement factory in Edo State, and is currently constructing a POP (Plaster of Paris) plant in Makoba, Rivers State, to serve the construction, pharmaceutical, and orthopaedic industries.
