News
FG, GE Seal $1bn Dev Deal …Rivers, C’River To Benefit
The Federal Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with General Electric Company to invest $1billion (N158 billion) in assembly and manufacturing facilities in Nigeria.
Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, signed on behalf of Nigeria while, GE Chairman and global CEO, Jeff Immelt, signed on behalf of the company.
General Electric , a United States Company, is a global leader in energy, health and rail transportation.
The facility is to be located in Calabar, Cross River State with service workshops at Port Harcourt and Onne, Rivers State.
The investment plan, according to Aganga, would have an initial $250 million capital expenditure and over $800 million incremental spending for the next five years and is expected to create 2,300 jobs.
“GE’s size of investment, which is $250 million, for the outset, and $1 bilion over the next five years, is significant in every respect.
“It is far more important because the investment is in critical areas of our economy, which is power infrastructure.
“This investment will support our Industrial Revolution Plan, which is based on the areas where we have competitive and comparative advantage,” he stated.
Aganga commended GE for its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation plan and vision 202020 of making the country one of the top twenty best performing economies by year 2020.
He said “the key socio-economic imperatives that will be delivered by this investment are numerous such as job creation, skill development.
“Also, technology transfer and local content generation are at the core of the government’s economic development strategy“.
GE Chairman and global CEO, Jeff Immelt, in his remarks said “the planned investment will make Nigeria hub for manufacturing, service and innovation.
He said it would create an improved ability to support a broader range of product lines in power generation as well as oil and gas exploration and production“.
The investment is expected to create 2300 jobs, 300 of which will be direct GE hires and the remaining 2000 indirect jobs created through suppliers that will support the expanded programme.
He said Nigeria will make up 90 per cent of the staff and management of the planned manufacturing facility, while local supplier base is expected to increase 100.
The company spending on locally sourced goods and services according to him “ is expected to increase from $4 million to over $60 million“
The CEO said “GE also plans to build a training facility on its manufacturing site to ensure ongoing employee development.
“ The company will provide one year to four year training programmes locally and internationally for repair engineers, welders, fabricators, machinists and special processing.
Acting Governor of Cross River State, Mr Effiok Cobham, who described the investment plan as a welcome development, said the state would do everything possible to ensure its sustainability.
He said the plan was part of government efforts in attracting foreign investors to the country.
“We shall continue to make Cross River a safe state for investors”, he added.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
