Arco Group Meets Buhari, Seeks Implementation of Nigerian Content Act

Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

‎Top executives of Arco Group of Companies on Thursday in Abuja met with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock in Abuja.

After the meeting which was labelled private, both ‎the Chairman of the group,Chief Joseph Akpieyi, and the Group Managing Director‎ and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Alfred Okoigun‎, spoke with State House correspondents.

They stressed the need for Nigerians to look inwards and reduce their appetite for imported things.

The chairman said ‎he raised the issue of the Nigerian Content Act with the president.

He said: “Before the law was promulgated, everybody thought that would be a wonderful elixir for the oil and gas industry.But now, we think it can be better implemented.

“We called his attention to the fact that there is the need to give more teeth and muscle to that Act.

“By doing so, Nigerian companies in the oil and gas industry will grow and also expand. If they expand, that means they can employ more Nigerians.

“We saw that as a route towards reducing unemployment level we have in the county.

“The president took that advice very well to heart and I am sure he will see what can be done to make sure that the Nigerian Content Act is more effectively implemented.”

Also speaking, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alfred Okoigun called on Nigerians to look inward and stop relying on importation.

He said the company acknowledged the effort the president was making to turn the economy around and more particularly in the area of transparency.

Okoigun said: “We want to contribute to his agenda of trying to do business in a transparent and honest way.

“We told him we can encourage talented young Nigerians to grow. This is the best time for honest and hard-working people to rise and get to the top of their career.

“We want to contribute to his agenda in doing business in a transparent manner and honest ways.

“You all know what is going in the country unemployment situation is touch. This govt is concerned and wants to do something. ‎We want to see how we can help.”