RSG Creates More 13,000 Jobs …Partners Germany On Housing Dev

Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Chief Tony Okocha says the Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Chibuike Amaechi has created over 13,000 jobs for both indigenes and non-indigenes through the various agricultural schemes in the state.

Okocha made the revelation when members of the Ikwerre Development Association (IDA) paid him a courtesy visit in his office  Monday in Port Harcourt, as he commended them for contributing and promoting Ikwerre culture through their activities over the years.

“ The Rivers State Government has also acquired a large space of land in Ogoni which would be used for farming and this would be put into useful venture that would help reduce the problem of unemployment because, employment is key in the vision of the Amaechi led administration’’, Okocha declared.

He thanked the group for working according to the tenets and ideological belief of Ikwerre nationality, stating that, the good works of the “Ikneni Newspaper”, a local tabloid in the state has contributed greatly in bringing government attention closer to the people.

The chief of staff also told the association of government’s willingness to partner with the group in promoting the activities of the current administration to achieve desired objectives, saying that government would also support the Obi Wali Memorial lecture billed to hold this September in the state.

Earlier, President of the Ikwerre Development Association (IDA) and leader of the delegation, Mr. Chris Chinwo, had lauded the sterling and leadership qualities of the Chief of Staff of Government House, Chief Tony Okocha which he said contributed in elevating him to the enviable position today and urged him to sustain his past antecedents while executing his duties in the current administration.

Unfolding the vision and objectives of the association, Mr. Chinwo said the group has concluded plans to give scholarship to deserving Ikwerre sons and daughters and would also hold a memorial lecture in honour of late Obi Wali on September 20, 2012, and called on the state government to tackle  kidnapping, hostage taking along the East West Road to restore the confidence of residents in the state.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has said that his administration would partner with German firms to build prefabricated houses across the state to address the short fall in housing.

He stated this in an interview with newsmen at the weekend in Berlin, the German capital.

Amaechi who led governors of Enugu, Niger, Plateau, Katsina and Borno states to Germany to under study the federal system of government of the country, said the governor’s forum team also met with prospective European investors in different areas with the aim of wooing investors to the country.

´´There is a company here that met with us which has the capacity to build units of three bedroom flats and two bedroom houses for about 10 to 15 thousand euros.

´´We are still negotiating and by the time we finish negotiations, they will come to Rivers state in the first or second week of October.

´´If we enter into a contract they will start building and they say in six months they would have built a thousand houses.´´

Amaechi expressed optimism that the Nigerian government could achieve its desire to be counted among the most developed economics by the year 2020.

He added that the spirit of true nationalism was all that Nigeria required to achieve the dream.

´´Believe me, after all we have heard that some of the development that we saw near our hotel took place in the last 15 years, then our national goals can be achieved.

´´It could happen if we are committed and dedicated to developmental issues, if we stop saying I am from Rivers, am from south,

am from west, am from east., rather look at Nigeria as a nation and plough our resources to the implementation of economic policies,´´ he said.

Our correspondent reports that the tour was organised by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GAIC).

Vice President, Namadi Sambo (left), presenting certificate of honorary Doctor of Management Science, to the President of the Republic of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (middle), at the convocation and passing out parade of 59 Regular Course Cadets in Kaduna, on Saturday. With them is the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Maj.-Gen Chukwuemeka Onwuamaegbu.