The Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Efiong Akwa has commissioned the NDDC Staff Cooperative’s Snowblue Water Factory in Port Harcourt and also unveiled the firm’s banking app.
Speaking during the ceremony, Akwa hailed the initiative of the cooperative society, noting that it would rob off positively on the people of the Niger Delta region.
The Chief Executive Officer commended the leadership of the Cooperative for being innovative and providing employment for many persons, thus giving residents of the Niger Delta region a source of livelihood and feeding many families.
He noted: “This is the first time that the NDDC is commissioning a project that will generate funds for the Cooperative. It is also commendable for giving jobs to 56 persons. Henceforth, the Snowblue Water will be the official water in all NDDC offices in the nine Niger Delta states.
“I am very happy that we intervene to resolve the dispute in the Cooperative. What I saw in the factory is very encouraging and I am confident that the water business will be a huge success. People who stay within the vicinity of the factory will be provided with a good road.”
In his address, the President of the NDDC Port Harcourt Staff Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Ltd, Mr. Paul Emerhana, explained that the Snowblue Bottling water factory was a Special Purpose Vehicle, owned by the NDDC Port-Harcourt Staff Cooperative Investment and Credit Society Limited.
He declared: “This project is a direct product of devotion, commitment to strategy and sacrifice by stakeholders. The foundation stone of this facility was laid on June 30, 2021. We are proud to inform co-operators that over 80 per cent of the total cost of this facility came from members’ savings and every equipment in this facility is state-of-the-art.”
Emerhana noted that the Snowblue Water factory had the capacity to produce 2,400 premium water bottles per-hour, stating: “We have two state-of-the-art PET blowing machines, jar line and sachet water machine. To guarantee power supply, we have a brand new 250kVA Perkins Generator and Transformer and two delivery vehicles.”
He expressed gratitude to the NDDC interim Administrator for his enormous support to the Cooperative Society. “Your leadership did not only bring stability to the Cooperative but has supported the growth of the Cooperative under the 5th Management Committee,” he said.
