Africa’s largest virgin coconut oil refinery has been inaugurated at Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa Ibom state.
At the event, Akwa Ibom state governor Udom Emmanuel said the facility willbe a big revenue earner for the state.
With a capacity to crack one million Coconuts a day, the Saint Gabriel Coconut Refinery will employ three thousand workers working in three shifts.
According to Governor Udom Emmanuel the days of over dependence on crude oil for revenue will soon be over
Governor Emmanuel assured the host community of employment opportunities.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was scheduled to perform the inauguration but he pulled out at the last minute despite arriving Uyo for consultations with APC faithful.
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The Responsibility then fell on former Governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam , who urged the governor to replicate his achievements in the state at the national level.
Former minister of interior , Senator Abba Moro and others were full of praises for Governor Emmanuel over the achievement.
The ground breaking of the Refinery , located at Ikot Akpan Okop community in Mkpa Enin, was performed on May 24, 2017 and should have been ready by 2020 but suffered a set back due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)