Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the lack of interest by multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta in investing in the region, is affecting the economic growth of the region.

Speaking at a one-day meeting of the Forum of Niger Delta Bishops of the Catholic Church in Port Harcourt, Wednesday, Amaechi noted that any investment, no matter how little, had the capacity to produce a multiplier effect on the economy. He berated oil firms for refusing to invest in the Niger Delta economy so as to boost its performance  and therefore urged the oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region to be proactive to the needs of their host communities  to engender a conducive business climate.    

He stated that the excuse made by oil companies concerning the  Petroleum Industry Bill, that has not been passed into  law, could not be taken in this regard since it was not yet operational, and called on companies like Shell Petroleum Development Company to invest in the state.

The State Chief Executive noted that the recent assessment which put the state as the biggest market for cement was based on the level of construction work going-on  in the state, which is facilitated by construction activities of the state government.         

Governor Amaechi attributed the wave of kidnapping, which started from the Niger Delta region, to poverty, pointing out that on assumption of office, he confronted the insecurity challenge with the realisation that without peace, no development could take place.        

The governor also identified three critical areas that affect Nigeria as a country, namely, insecurity, instability in government and the lack of constant power supply, describing them as critical factors in attracting foreign investments.

He used the opportunity to intimate the clergymen that positive changes were coming into the governance of the country, particularly in Rivers State where modest achievements had been recorded and called on the church to play its role by making government do what would improve society.

In a lecture, Monsignor Matthew Hassan Kukah, said the Church needed to reclaim its role as teachers, noting that the country had gone through a period of moral meltdown, which required the tackling of the frustrations of the people.

Monsignor Kukah, urged the Church to teach the people positive engagements by renewing its role as builders of society, adding that free and fair elections alone could not guarantee good governance in the country.

In his remarks, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Chris Cooter said leaders should be responsible to their people, and re-stated his country’s readiness to partner with Nigeria in the areas of health and power generation, while commending Governor Amaechi for his interest in the development of education.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Niger Delta Catholic Bishops Forum, Archbishop Joseph Ukpo, lauded Governor Amaechi for his positive attitude to governance and urged him to remain upright to serve the people better.