Assess N’ Delta From Within, Amaechi Tells US Envoy, Others

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has emphasised the need for representatives of foreign governments, and oil multi-nationals to assess the Niger Delta region on security and development growth from the Niger Delta  to avoid a distorted picture of the oil-rich zone.

Governor Amaechi stated this when the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Terence P. McCulley led other US Embassy and USAID officials on a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Amaechi said, “At the bi-national conference in America, I had said that America cannot assess Niger Delta from afar. You cannot assess the Niger Delta from Washington DC, or even Abuja and Lagos, you will be getting a wrong report, a distorted picture.  If you want to assess the Niger Delta, you must be present in the Niger Delta, you must be able to visit. There are other countries that have been coming and some after visiting, have reduced or downgraded their travel advisory.”

“And if you take a tour of Rivers State, of the city Port Harcourt you will see contractors on site working and they are not just Nigerians, they are also from different countries, and they are on site supervising their jobs,” he added.

Governor Amaechi noted that several expatriates of mostly construction companies were working the state without any molestation or threat to their lives, and called for proper assessment of the Niger Delta.

“So, I think that it is important that you come and assess the situation in such a manner that can get you to review your travel advisory so that all those who want to do business in the Niger Delta won’t be afraid to come because a lot of them claimed to have been stopped by their embassies especially when it concerns Americans and British citizens.”

The Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said his administration is ready to partner with foreign governments in the areas of development and technology.

On transparency and good governance, Governor Amaechi stated that Rivers State is among the first states in the country to pass a law on fiscal responsibility to check corrupt practices.

Rivers State, according to him, is also among the very few states that have in place the Bureau for Public Procurement which reduces the Governor’s discretionary power in awarding contracts.

Governor Amaechi also told Ambassador McCulley and his team that Rivers State is among the first states in Nigeria to pass a Public Private Partnership law that allows an investor to invest in the state without hassles.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria said they were in Rivers State to get firsthand knowledge of the progress that has been made by the Amaechi leadership and the challenges the state faces.

“He said this really is the first opportunity to travel to Port Harcourt, to travel to Rivers State, to get a sense of the challenges and the progress that has been made by your leadership in Rivers State.”

“The purpose of our visit, Your Excellency, is to become better acquainted with Port Harcourt and the challenges and goals that you have for Rivers State, to get a sense of where you wish to take the state in the next four years, to talk about the environment and developmental challenges that you face and to see how we as an important friend of Nigeria might be able to add to the work that you are doing here in Rivers State,” McCulley added.

”We are particularly looking to states like your own, Your Excellency, where we see infrastructure and economic development, where we see transparent and accountable governance, to see how we might be able to add value to the goals that you have set for the people of Rivers State”, Ambassador McCulley concluded.

United States Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Terrence P. McCulley, and Dr. Christain Oboh, MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), when the Ambassador paid a courtesy call on the MD in his office, yesterday.