Ikpa Ibekwe, host community of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom state, has absolved RUSAL of the allegation of vandalising assets of the company.
The community rose in defence of RUSAL after reports emerged last week that the Russian aluminum giant was vandalizing equipment and assets of ALSCON.
Recall that RUSAL took over the management of ALSCON but discontinued production in 2013 after the cessation of gas supply to the plant by the federal government.
But traditional and youth leaders, who spoke with journalists, stated that the reports were untrue and unfounded.
The clan head of Ikpa Ibekwe, HRH Eteidung Akpan Nelson Inyang said that the community can confirm that no asset of ALSCON has been stolen.
Inyang said, “It is completely false that RUSAL has stripped ALSCON of its assets. I have had cause to personally investigate the allegation and have discovered that it is untrue and the handiwork of mischief makers.
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“RUSAL has been committed to maintaining the assets at the plant at great cost even when it is not producing and generating any income for years now.
“Our people need to be sensitized to know that instead of spreading falsehood, they should join hands and voices in calling on the federal government to restore gas supply and put modalities in place for the resuscitation of ALSCON”.
The village head of Ikot Essien in Ikpa Ibekwe, Eteidung Ufot Akpan Nathaniel disclosed that the community has vigilantes which secure the assets of the company as well as monitor the entry and exit of items from the ALSCON plant.
“I can tell you for free that it is not true that RUSAL has been vandalizing equipment from ALSCON. Even if it was true, where will they pass with the vandalized equipment?
“We have vigilantes which secure our territory up to Edemaya, Essene, Ette and other entry and exit points. So there is no such as asset stripping”.
The youth leader of Ikpa Ibekwe, Comrade Etop Sunday hailed the company for living up to its corporate social responsibility (CSR), adding that ALSCON has impacted positively on the community.
He mentioned the computer literacy centre, skills acquisition centre, youth development centre and several scholarship awards to indigenes of Ikpa Ibekwe and its environs are some of the CSR interventions by RUSAL-ALSCON.
Earlier, the Director of Government/Public Relations Directorate of the company, Aleksandra Ashkinazi had taken journalists on an inspection tour of the company’s facilities.
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