Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has advised oil firms companies operating in the Niger Delta region to always be mindful to implement the local content policy in order to foster cordial relationship with their host communities.
The governor said this when he performed the groundbreaking of Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Production Factory, at Okoroinyong, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Wike who commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for attracting investors to the state, assured that the gas and fertilizer project will not only transform the economy of Akwa Ibom State but will create employment opportunities for the people.
He said those propagating the conspiracy theory that the Niger Delta was unsafe are the real enemies of the oil rich region, noting that if Akwa Ibom State was not safe, there was no way any prospective investor will conceive the idea of building a gas and fertilizer plant in the State.
He lauded the management of Sterling Petrochemicals and Fertilizer Production for the decision to invest in Akwa-Ibom and by extension, the Niger Delta.
“If Akwa Ibom State is not safe will investors come here? Investors are here because the governor has provided an enabling environment that gives confidence to the investors. If a place is not secure for people to invest their money, we won’t be here.
“Don’t mind the enemies of the people who will always say that Niger Delta is not safe. If it is not safe can anyone come and invest money here?”
The governor urged the company and other investors doing business in the State to always comply with the local content law in order to ensure cordial relationship with their host communities.
Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel said the entire area where gas and fertilizer project is located will be transformed to industrial hub, while swampy area will be used to plant coconut that will feed the state’s owned coconut refinery.
He urged the youths of the State to develop their capacity in order to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities that the industrial hub will offer.
Chairman of Sterling Energy and Exploration Production Limited, Tony Chukwueke, said the gas and fertilizer project will be second largest in the country when completed.
Governor Wike also performed the groundbreaking of Akwa Ibom Teaching Hospital at Awa, in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and pledged N600million to the project.
The hospital project is a product of a partnership deal with Bua Group who announced a first tranche support of N2.5billion towards the project, as part of its corporate social responsibility in view of the planned 200,000bpd refinery in the state.
Earlier, Akwa Ibom state government also flagged off the construction of NNPC oil and gas solution centre (Ibom Solution Hub) in Mbo Local Government Area of the State.
