Business
PHCCIMA Urges Oil Companies To Relocate Headquarters
The Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHICCIMA) has called on multi-national oil and gas companies that moved their headquarters to other parts of the country to relocate them to Port Harcourt since there is prevailing peace in Rivers State.
In a joint statement signed by its President, Engr Vincent Furo and the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Trade Group, Chief Franklin Dandison Gbupo, PHCCIMA said Port Harcourt and indeed Niger Delta region had become a secure environment to do business as manifested in the increase in oil and gas production from the region.
The statement further said that rumours about insecurity being circulated in some media were the handiwork of unscrupulous elements, adding that it was only the figment of their imagination and negative thoughts that are not in the best interest of the Niger Delta region.
“Port Harcourt is the hub of oil and gas in Nigeria as compared to Abardeen in the United Kingdom and Housten in America”, and therefore should take its rightful place in the comity of cities,” it said.
It stated that PHCCIMA is particularly delighted with the increase in economic activities of the Niger Delta region, saying that this would favour the Organised Private Sector (OPS), as well as create employment opportunities which will bring the companies closer to their host communities.
PHCCIMA in the statement commended the Board and Management of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) for their planned relocation. He also commended the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Ministry of Petroleum and the Federal Government for their bold steps in relocating their headquarters to the state, describing it as a worthwhile movement back to its original base.
It lauded the Rivers State Government on its giant strides in infrastructural development and security which had helped to support and sustain growth in the oil and gas industry.
“We also commend the amnesty programme of the Federal Government that has contributed immensely to bringing about permanent peace in the region,” PHCCIMA said.