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RSG Creates 100,000 Jobs In Three Years …Plans 2,000 Hectare Juice Factory
Not fewer than 100,000 jobs have been created by the Chief Nyesom Wike-led administration in the past three years.
The jobs, according to the governor who spoke through Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Agency,Ambassador Desmond Akawor at the first State Employers Forum was driven by the various construction projects carried out by the government.
Wike who tagged the employment policy framework of his government as CAT- Construction, Agriculture and Tourism said the other core area of agriculture is already in full gear.
He disclosed that plans have begun with a new MoU with a South African firm to cultivate 2,000 hectares of land in Odagwa, Etche for the production of fruit and vegetable juice.
Also, he stated that the government has approved expansion of former Risonpalm now Siat plant to engage more youths.
Wike added, “the other aspect is tourism and we are working towards ensuring that our natural resources are used to empower our people.”
The governor further said, “ the time has come to create employment, but for us, the most important thing is to create the environment for jobs to come. To ensure that the issue of security is key.”
Earlier, Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa said an Employment Trust Fund that will be private sector driven will be established to provide foundation for new employment policy.
Dr. Nwibubasa said corporats bodies have a key role to play to drive the employment agenda of the government.
In order to sustain the vision, he hinted that a quarterly employment roundtable will be held in the state.
Also, plans have reached advanced stages for a 2,000 juice factory at Odagwa in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The factory is owned by a South African firm, which recently entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rivers State Government to convert the huge fruit and vegetable products in the area for commercial purpose.
The State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, while speaking at the maiden edition of the Rivers State Employers Roundtable organized by the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment in Port Harcourt yesterday, emphasized that agriculture remains key focus of the administration to create job.
Represented at the event by Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPCDA), Ambassador Desmond Akawor, the governor explained that the juice factory would further consolidate gains made with former Risonpalm now Slat in employment generation through agriculture.
The governor who tagged his employment generation policy as CAT-Construction, Agriculture and Tourism, said the government is on the last pap, noting that soon tourism will be fully exploited.
He said, “the issue of employment generation is key to this administration. If you don’t talk it, employment will talk about you.”
Nike said though it was not the business of government to create jobs, the major focus of his administration was to create the enabling environment for job creation.
On the issue of security, he remarked, “just two days ago about 3,000 youths were engaged by the state by Neighbourhood and Safety Corps, that to us is key in improving security and creating jobs for our people.”
The governor charged participants and organizers of the forum to ensure that the outcome of the event yield fruits, insisting that it should go beyond talk to action.
He suggested that action programme on employment generation should cover both gradates and retired personnel so that no group is left to waste in the labour market.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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