…Moves To Diversity Economy

The Rivers State Government, has restated its commitment to divest the state from its oil based economy and diversify into other sectors.

Against this background, the government has commissioned a feasibility study to ascertain the availability and viability of other natural resources abundant in the state.

The Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Hon. Okey Amadi, who said this while inaugurating a committee on natural resources in his office in Port Harcourt, said that time has come for the exploration and exploitation of the state’s abundant natural resources to create employment for our teeming population.

The commissioner cited the case of Thailand which thrives on fishery, stressing that Rivers State can make huge revenue from the fishery sector, if well harnessed and adequate attention paid to the sector.

The committee which has Engr. Pokuboye C. Pokubo as its chairman has the following terms of reference; to identify and carry out investigation on the major natural resources in the state, identify its locations and distribution, as well as to determine their economic viability.

The rest are, to suggest ways of harnessing the resources and to investigate the presence of alternative sources of energy in the state.

Other members of the committee are; Engr. Temple T. Amachree, Mr. Justin Ojirika, Mr. Jyke J. Abbey, Engr. Ken Anaele, Mr. Lawson Ikuru and Engr. Juliet Omeke-Owhonda while Engr. Henry Ashiri is to serve as secretary.

The committee chairman in his post inauguration speech thanked the commissioner for the opportunity to serve the state.