Rivers Plans PPP To Create Jobs …As Wike Pledges Support To Pabod

The Rivers State Government has pledged support to expansion plans by Pabod Breweries to improve production and create more employment opportunities for the citizens of the state.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, made the pledge at the weekend when he played host to the General Manager of the company, Mr. Riaan Meyer and other top management staff in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Wike while regretting that the shares of the state government in the company had greatly reduced over the years, stressed that it would not stop the administration from giving support to the company, since that would create more job opportunities and investment in the state.
The governor said: “It is the manufacturing sector that generates employment, and we are willing to support manufacturers. Our ultimate aim is to create employment opportunities for our people.
“It is important that we encourage  investors to always ply their trade in the state for the good of our economy,” he declared.
The state governor said that the state government will always support manufacturers through the provision of land and other incentives.
The governor called on the management of Pabod Breweries to always consider qualified Rivers indigenes in their employment programmes as a measure of goodwill.
On the security situation in Rivers State, Wike decried the incessant transfer of security chiefs from the state, arguing that such frequent transfers make it difficult for security agencies to fight crime.
He, however, assured that the state government will always support the security agencies through the provision of logistics and adequate funding.
The governor accepted the invitation of the Pabod Breweries management to inspect facilities at the company, and directed both the Attorney-General and the Commissioner for Commerce to liaise with Pabod Breweries to ascertain the percentage of the state government’s ownership in the company.
Earlier, the General Manager of Pabod Breweries, Riaan Meyer, said that the company was investing in the expansion of its facilities which will create more jobs for the people of the state.
According to him, the company in the past two years has posted profits and has begun expansion to brew 1.5 million litres of beer and malt, , three times the current production.
He sued for improved  relationship  between  the  Rivers State Government and Pabod Breweries, saying such relationship will impact positively  on the economy  of the state.