Host communities assure Shoprite of co-operation

Autonomous communities in Owerri North Local Council area of Imo State have assured the management of Owerrl Mall, Shoprite, owned by the South African Investment Company-Resilient Africa, of their co-operation for the outfit to operate smoothly in the area.

Transition Chairman of the council, Ndidi Iheme, disclosed this when she led representatives of the communities, which comprise of Egbu, Emekuku, Awaka among others, to the company, to mark the 56th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.

While noting that it was their resolve to give all necessary encouragement and enabling environment to the company’s authorities to thrive in the area, she urged them not to have double minds about their hosts.

According to her, the governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, directed the waving aside of annual N10 million tenement tax land rent, stressing that the decision was to encourage the company to provide security and access roads to the premises of the mall.

Speaking, the State Manager of the Mall, Bayo Anifowose, who expressed his delight with the cordial relationship between the host communities and the state government, added that research conducted by the outfit indicated that over 4,000 persons patronise the outfit on daily basis.

Anifowose said the company had offered about 1,000 direct employment to the community, expecting to offer about 2,000 additional jobs, while about 3,000 indirect employment, were provided since the mall was opened.