Business
RSG Wants Cross-Ethnic Interaction For Youths
The Rivers State Government says its policy of building model secondary schools in each of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state will encourage cross-ethnic interaction among the youths.
Commissioner of Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari stated this yesterday while conducting a team of foreign journalists, who are in the state for the on-going ION International Film Festival, round some parts of the state.
Mrs Semenitari, who explained that the government’s free education package covers tuition, books, accommodation, uniform among others, said the present administration was doing a lot to revive the infrastructural base of the state which had been neglected for many years.
According to her, Rivers State is about the only state in Nigeria that spends almost 80 per cent of its budget on capital projects.
Taking the foreign journalists along the water fronts, the Information boss told them that government had decided to demolish the shanties and convert the areas into habitable environment.
On the entertainment industry, she said government believes that the industry should be private sector driven, adding that it was the reason government went into partnership with Silverbird group to develop entertainment centres in the state capital.
Speaking at the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Road, a Director, in the Ministry of Works, Engr. Power Maeba said 13km out of the 43km road has been completed up to Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area while five out of the 10 bridges on the whole has been built.
In an interview with newsmen, one of the journalists Mr Babatunde Epega said they were happy with the warm hospitality extended to them by Rivers people.
Mr Epega who, is also the International Public Relations Agent for the ION International Film Festival in Port Harcourt, said they have come to see the diverse culture of Rivers people, “what Port Harcourt is at the moment” and to learn more about the film industry in Nigeria.
He stated that within the short time they have been around, they have realized the regeneration going on in the state, especially with what governor Amaechi was doing with his team.
Also speaking to newsmen two of the foreign journalists, Poole Fnotea and Dr Gianluca Cerasola said this was their first time of visiting Nigeria, describing the country as a wonderful place.