Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike exchanging pleasantries with the Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) , Mr Tony Attah on Tuesday night at the Government House Port Harcourt.
Rivers
Governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that his administration will always
defend the economy of Rivers State and the South-South geo-political
zone, saying that the state government will join forces with other
governors of the zone to stop the amendment of
Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited Bill .
The
governor also stated that agitations in the South-South
have remained rife, because the authorities ignore
the geo-political zone, even though the people produce
the wealth that sustains the nation.
Speaking
on Tuesday night at the Government House Port
Harcourt during a courtesy visit by the management of the NLNG
Limited, Governor Wike said that the state government will mobilise
the state's representatives at the National Assembly to ensure that
the NLNG Limited remains in good stead to continue
with her operations.
He
urged the Federal Government not to allow the amendment of the NLNG
act to sail through at the National Assembly because of the negative
multiplier effect it would on the economy.
He
said: "Anything that will affect the economy of Rivers State, we
will always fight it. It is about Rivers State ".
The
governor commended the management of the NLNG for offering to partner
with the Federal Government to construct the all-important Bodo
-Bonny Bridge.
"I
thank you for the Bodo-Bonny bridge. I hope it is not
political. I have always advocated for this important
bridge. I thank the NLNG for telling the Federal
Government that they are willing to put down money for the
construction of the bridge ", the governor said.
He
pointed out that the people of the South-South geo-political zone
always agitate for better investment of their resources in their
respective communities because of the neglect they continue to
suffer.
He
said: "A big company like NLNG Limited generates funds for
the country, yet the Bodo-Bonny bridge that will create acceas to
Bonny has not been constructed. "
The
governor regretted that the focus of the Federal Government is on the
major ethnic groups, saying that because the Hausas and Igbos are
involved in conflict, a national meeting has been called.
"When
it is South-South, Nigeria never called a meeting. But because Arewa
has given a quit notice to Igbos and Igbos have replied, now we
are to sit down and talk. But when the problem was here, nobody said
sit down and let's talk about these people's problems.
"Those
who are causing this crisis are those who refuse to listen to the
yearnings and cries of the people", Governor Wike said.
He
charged the management of the NLNG Limited to bring
the construction of the Ship Building Dockyard to the state for
the improvement of the economy of Rivers State.
The
governor also called on the NLNG Limited to act on the
agreement it enterred with the Rivers State Government for the
rehabilitation of schools with the sum of N4billion.
Earlier,
the Managing Director of NLNG Limited, Mr Tony Attah appealed to the
Rivers State Government to work with other stakeholders to
ensure that the NLNG Limited bill is not amended as it will
negatively affect the operation of the company in the international
stage.
He
said that the NLNG Limited is operating 6 trains which generates more
than 20 million tonnes which makes it the fourth in the global
ranking of LNGs . He added that the NLNG Limited is
building trains 7 and 8, which will take the capacity of the
NLNG to 30million tonnes and make it third in the world.
He
said: "I must say that the train 7 and 8 which will be in
Rivers State have the potential to bring more than 18, 000 jobs into
the state with up to $20billion investments once we take the
final decision ".
He
said the amendment of the NLNG Limited Act will lead to loss of
international confidence, which have negative effect on the
economy.
"It
will be most unfortunate. We believe that if this bill is
amended, it will not be good for NLNG, it will not be good
for Rivers State abd it will not be good the oil and gas
industry", he said.
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