Nigeria, May 24 -- A coconut refining factory in Akwa Ibom State will create 1,300 direct jobs when completed in September, the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, has said.

Also, more than 3,000 people would be employed indirectly by the factory, according to Mr Emmanuel.

The factory is owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

He expressed satisfaction with the project and said it would help in technology transfer to people in the state and also help to boost the state economy.

Mr Emmanuel, according to a Government House statement, blamed the delay in the completion of the project on the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, called on youths of the area to support the government's industrialisation programmes and protect the facil...