A call has gone to the leadership of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State to urgently partner with the private sector for the provision of infrastructure, peace and security that would enhance business growth in the LGA.
A business manager, Mr Jobson Manfred Obomanu, stated this to The Tide last weekend at Queenstown-Opobo in an interview on the absence of formidable business drive in the LGA.
According to him, government’s efforts to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on importation should be undermined by value-chain operators, farmers and providers of key raw materials who would rather export raw commodities for foreign exchange than sell to local producers at market prices.
He also noted that successive governments in the LGA had been dedicated to the provision of the best opportunity of Opobo/Nkoro indigenes socially, economically and politically.
On the heel of development, the business expert also charged the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHACCIMA) to keep an eye on the business cash flow, cutbacks, unnecessary expenses with respect to marketing and advertising and to be committed and lead by example which he described could make the organisation to stand tall in the business world.
He further advised the chamber to collaborate, as well as solidify with the policies and programmes of Governor Nyesom Wike and Mr Datubo Omubo-Pepple governments in the effort of providing Rivers and Opobo/Nkoro indigenes with enabling environment for the entire state and local government are to become a reality in terms of infrastructural development such as roads, power generation, serene environment, potable water, among others , that form the bedrock for accelerated economic transformation.
Obomanu stressed that with more emphasis and priority attention on development of oil and gas sector, agriculture and agro-technology, the people in the LGA enjoy multi-income economy in the nearest future.
He also confided in the chairman and the good people of the LGA that, this is the second ever opportunity to air this view for government to look into and apply for the betterment of the people in the areas of business development and other necessity of the citizenry.
Obomanu, who urged the chairman and his team to always reside in Opobo Town to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, advised them to ensure that the administration, as a matter of fact should partner with private sector for the growth of the economy.

Bethel Sam Toby