BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT –  National Assembly has been urged  to conduct investigation into the sale  of  Eleme Petro chemical company to Ndorama corporation.

President, Advocate for Good Governance and Development , Mr Charles Alemeo  in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt alleged that the company was sold for $215 million while the construction cost of the firm was $2.4 billion.

Lamenting what he termed a significant difference in the sale and cost of construction he said there was urgent need for the national assembly and the federal government to revisit the exercise for the interest of the nation.

He said as a group they were hopeful that in this era of change the federal government and the National Assembly will give special,and urgent attention to their appeal.

He recalled that the privatisation process was fraught with alleged irregularities, adding that there were cries against the alleged underhand dealings but they were ignored

“Inspite of the allegations and misgivings the BPE hurriedly concluded the sale of the whole Petrochemical Complex. The question is why should a complex that costs the federal government $2.4 billion dollars to build be sold for  $215 million dollars?.

“We want the government and the National Assembly to go back to look at the issue”, the group said.

When contacted for response, Head Corporate Communications of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals limited,  Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, wondered the motive behind the call by the group.

“It is difficult to decode the true motive of anyone making a statement that is patently designed to take the nation and the company backwards. “, he said.

He said the company had impacted significantly on the nation’s economy in the last ten years through provision of jobs, raw materials for over 350 companies.

Continuing, he said Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals has paid divided to the federal, Rivers state government  and the host community, adding that the firm has also diversified into other areas.