….Decries rate Multinational Companies are leaving
The exit of the pharmaceutical giant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), from Nigeria after 51 years of operations has been described as saddening and disheartened.
This was stated by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 presidential election, Peter Obi
Obi in a series of tweets on Saturday, said the reason given by the company for leaving portends a gloomy future for the country’s investment climate.
Obi said, “Today, I was saddened to hear that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is exiting Nigeria after 51 years of operations.
“Their reason for leaving Nigeria is even more disheartening, that they are no longer perceiving any future growth of the country, which will be anchored on productivity.”
The former Anambra state governor decried the rate multinational companies were leaving the country and local ones closing down.
This he blamed on poor management of the economy, noting that such has resulted in millions losing their jobs “and our poverty index is worsening despite our already being the world poverty capital.
“These multinationals leaving our country, not only create jobs but create immeasurable training that contributes immensely to our human capital development.
“GSK which has a manufacturing facility set up in Agbara, on over 25 hectares of land in Agbara, had directly employed over 400 highly technical workers like pharmacists, microbiologists, biochemists, chemists, dentists, doctors etc, and also employed over 1000 other staff.
“It indirectly provided jobs and business opportunities for thousands of Nigerians across the nation.
“They are now leaving all these behind, and pushing more people back into unemployment.”
Obi recalled his consistent position that “in turning our nation around, we must move the economy from consumption to production, part of which included encouraging and supporting local and foreign investments, like GSK, in the country.”
He stressed the need for an environment that creates and sustains multinationals to invest in the country, which he said is key to greatness.
“In the new Nigeria that we seek to create, the emphasis on production will encourage investors to stay and expand on our shores,” Obi stated.