Star Paper Mill ‘Renaissance’ – Promise fulfilled by Ottis’ administration
By Chukwu Elvis
Aba, often described as the commercial and Industrial heartbeat of not just Abia but the southeast, at independence hosted several of the multinational manufacturers producing much of the household items for local consumption and for export.
The big brand manufacturers – PZ, Lever brothers, Bata, Lernerds, Nigerian Breweries, Coca-Cola, United African Company UAC – all had manufacturing plants in Aba. This in turn inspired others – International Equitable Association IEA, Star Paper Mill to delve into manufacturing of goods for both the local market and export.
Star Paper Mill Aba, is iconic – synonymous with the city and its commercial vibrancy; an image projected by Aba as a business hub of entrepreneurial creativity and resilience.
The plant located at 114/116 Aba – Owerri road Aba, was established in 1977 by a local investor – Chief Nnanna Kalu as a paper conversion plant. In 1984, another plant was built in Owerrinta to further recycle waste paper into jombo reals toilet tissue and it became the largest producer in Nigeria.
Star Paper Mill had a nationwide distribution network and later ventured into the production of female sanitary towels. According to available records, Star Paper Mill had a waste paper recycling capacity of 2,500 metric tons to tissue jumbo reals per annum with 90% local raw material sourcing.
The Paper Mill became the pride of the average Aba man and by extension Southeastern people because everyone from the trade intensive city and zone was directly or indirectly connected to the company.
As an Aba man or woman, you most likely had a father, mother, brother, sister, cousin or at the least a close friend who held a job at Star Paper Mill.
So Aba residents felt a sense of ownership as far as the firm was situated in their city and provided a source of lively hood for many of their kith and kin.
They also patronized products from the company such as tissue rolls, printing paper, branded paper products, sanitary wares amongst others. Thus Enyimba city dwellers were fully integrated into the Star Paper Mill family and the symbiotic relationship flourished until…
The unthinkable happened – management issues cascading into financial constrictions led to a closure of the vibrant firm. It couldn’t meet its obligations with creditors and was forced to shutter. Many were heartbroken including yours truly when this information on the closure of our dear Star Paper Mill got out.
Following the cessation of production, the firm was taken over by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria – AMCON – this remained so until the emergence of the ‘New Abia’.
On the assumption of Office, the government of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti committed to among others things revamp the Abia economy through job creation and the revitalisation of hitherto moribund manufacturing industries which no longer contributed to the Abia economy but still held the potential to do so if only such establishments could get necessary support.
This is akin to providing fresh soil and manure to revive a once vibrant plant into growing fresh fruits.
The administration of Gov. Otti through the office of the Special Adviser on Trade, Commerce and Industry manned by Sir Nwaka Inem announced to the Abia public that it was already in the process of identifying all moribund industries and manufacturing firms in the state, with the intention of reviving most, if not all of them. This is in tandem with the vision of Governor Otti for economic expansion and job creation.
When manufacturing companies are established, jobs are created. When moribund ones are revitalised, jobs are also created and the local economy boosted.
Those gainfully employed find themselves busy and are unlikely to engage in vice! An effective means of curbing overall insecurity and youth restiveness without the application of brute force to tackle crime.
When this policy was first broached, a high number of manufacturing houses which had seized operations were identified by the state government. Star Paper Mill was one of them. Efforts were made from behind the scenes for the revitalisation of this manufacturing firm and indeed others.
Today the fruits of the state governments drive to bring back life to shuttered companies have borne fruit in Star Paper Mill. The Asset Management Company – has authorized Abia state government to reacquire the company with the aim of revitalising and subsequently handing it over to a qualified investors who can continue to run it profitably.
From the get go, the Abia State government made it categorically clear that it wasn’t its intention to run Star Paper Mill or any other resuscitated manufacturing firm. The state government will only lend a helping hand for these private firms to come back to life; acting as an enabler in creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive – existing ones, new ones and moribund establishments.
The lengthy process of identifying and resuscitating moribund industries has produced fruit, bringing back to life Star Paper Mill in keeping with Governor Ottis’ promise that jobs will be created for Abians.
Beyond Star Paper Mill Aba, the state government has set its sight on revamping other moribund manufacturing firms in the state. They include Afro Beverages, Aba Textile Mills, International Equitable Association, Ken Biscuits in a long list but a gradual process.
These are definitely ‘good times’ for the Abia economy and job creation in God’s Own State’ following the transformative process initiated by the governor who ‘is in a hurry’ to develop his state.
It can only get better with a leader in the person of Dr. Alex Otti – a man who believes the best for his state, pulling every string to place Abia on the number one spot across every sector in the country.
History will indeed judge him and his good intentions kindly; these efforts will yield fruits abundantly for Abians and all people of goodwill.
Chukwu Elvis is a public affairs analyst