The Mayor of Ukwa West LGA of Abia State, Newman Azu has informed Governor Alex Otti about activities of a Chinese Company, Inner Galaxy in his local government, alleging that the steel manufacturing conglomerate has been polluting waterways in the area on a daily basis.
Azu, who was briefing the Governor during a peace meeting between traditional rulers of Ukwa West and officials of Inner Galaxy, held at Governor Otti’s residence, also alleged that the company has not paid a dime to Ukwa West LGA in the past six years.
Also, the Chairman of Ukwa West Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Augustine Dike during the meeting, told Governor Otti that the company was allegedly paying as low as N15,000 as monthly salary to its staff, adding that the company was not keeping any healthy relationship with the host community.
Eze Dike, who accused the Chinese company of destroying and abandoning community roads with its vehicles, said the company shunned several letters written to it by the community.
Dike appealed to Governor Alex Otti to intervene.
But responding, the Managing Director of Inner Galaxy, Hongming Zhang denied the allegations, saying that his company pays between N60,000 and N500,000 as monthly salary.
Zhang, who denied sacking employees regularly, also claimed that his company has been operating in line with the best international practices and promised to improve the welfare of the host community.
But Governor Otti, who hosted the peace meeting, directed Inner Galaxy steel company based in Umuahala Obuzor Ukwa, to evolve initiatives that can contribute positively to the socio-economic growth of the host communities and the state in extension.
The Governor said that the matter involving the company showed that there was no good communication between the company and the host communities, and threatened to sanction the Chinese company if it failed to make peace with the host community.
He urged the management of the company to conduct an internal audit to find out the exact amount their staff were being paid, even as he reminded them that any turmoil in the host community could lead to the company’s exit from Ukwa West.
“The reality is that if the government gives instructions and it is not carried out, I will shutdown the place.
“This is the second time I am meeting with you and the first time, I told you that your name is not good because anytime your name is mentioned, it does not bring good remarks from people”, Otti told Inner Galaxy’s management.
Otti expressed concern on the reports that the Inner Galaxy management was using security agents to harass the members of host community,
It would be recalled that a female staff of Inner Galaxy, identified as Vivian Ocheze Ogbonna, was allegedly pushed down from a crane in May this year by a Chinese manager, which led to the staff’s death.
The death caused community-wide protests in Umuahala Obuzor Ukwa.