Rep Sets Up Economic Dev Zone

As a concrete step towards fulfilling his promises and commitment to give the people of his constituency quality and purposeful leadership, Hon. Dakuku Adol Peterside,representing Andoni/Opobo Federal Constutency in the House of Representatives, has commenced the process of setting up the first ever constituency-based economic development zone under the aegis of Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Economic Zone Foundation.

Briefing journalists on the development in Port Harcourt last week, the Chairman of the foundation, Engr Emiy Ikuru, a retired staff of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC),  revealed that the economic development zone when fully put in place will become the first economic development zone by a Federal Constituency in Nigeria.

Explaining steps so far taken to bring the vision to fruition, Ikuru said that already 26 technical committees made up of five persons each and headed by eminent professionals in the Federal Constituency have already completed work and are turning in their reports.

According to him,the focal persons for the various committees include Engr. Emiy Ikuru, Amaopusenibo William Igoni Park, Mike Igolima, Amiye Francis, Isaac Mietamuno Jaja, A.D. Abiante and Justus Ngerebara.

The foundation Chairman noted that the next step would be to synthesize and articulate the work of the various sub-committees into two verifiable scientific documents that will spell out the economic potentials and developmental needs of the federal constituency

“Our strategic objective is to produce a concrete roadmap for the economic, social and human capital development of our constituency,” Ikuru said.

“The summit that will follow will be a platform to showcase our federal constituency; we will use it to tell our own story by ourselves to the world,” he stated.

Engr. Ikuru further disclosed that the summit will be a continuous exercise as it will be held annually to constantly appraise the progress made and chart the way forward for the project.

According to him, “We are the only two local governments in Rivers State that are not accessible by road now. But we need to put our federal constituency on the world map to let people know that we exist and also know what we have and what we can contribute. Indeed, we want to take the story of that federal constituency on to the world stage.”

It would be recalled that the Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Economic   Zone Foundation was inaugurated at a well-attended event that took place at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt on December 15, 2011. Eminent personalities that graced the occasion included the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Engr. Teleyen Renner Ikuru as Special Guest-of-Honour; Senator Magnus Abe, NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Chris Oboh amongst others.