Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa yesterday appealed to the management of Savannah Sugar Company in Numan to re-open the company.

Nyako made the appeal when he received members of state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) who paid him Christmas homage at the Government House in Yola. He said re-opening the ailing company would contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the people.

The company was closed down in July 2011 following alleged security threat by some angry casual workers engaged by the company. The governor, who expressed concern over the prolong closure of the firm, said that the development was having negative impact on the citizens of the state.

The governor said that he was worried because over 5,000 workers had been rendered jobless. "Government is worried over the shutdown of the company. I think it is now time for the authority of Savannah Sugar to consider the huge investment opportunity and the plight of the state to re-open it," he said.

The governor said that his administration was genuinely interested in finding a permanent solution to the crisis between the company, host communities and the staff. "I spoke with Dangote himself, the owner of the company over the situation, where I assured him clearly that we have learnt our lessons.

"He told me that if he closes down the company for 20 years, he is not going to lose or be affected in any way from his daily business all over the world. So, we are the people to suffer if our children are not working," the governor told the labour leaders.