Wike urges multi-nationals to encourage host communities with key appointments

Wike

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that part of the crisis bedevilling the Niger Delta is the refusal of multi-nationals to encourage host communities with key  appointments.

Speaking during a courtesy by the leadership of Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) , Governor Wike said local content participation is key  to harmony and sustained development. 

He said: "I urge the multi-nationals and the NBC to encourage Rivers people through local content participation .

"Part of the crisis in the Niger Delta is that some companies relegate the people of the area in the allocation of management positions ".

He said the ugly situation should be checked  to stop avoidable conflicts as noticed in the relationship between Shell and some host communities. 

The governor, however, expressed happiness that the NBC is expanding her operations in Rivers State. 

"This expansion will create more employment and internally generated revenue.  This state is peaceful for investments ", he said.

The governor stated that the documents for the land acquired by NBC for their expansion will be granted by his administration. 

Earlier, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Ambassador Segun Apata  that the company is working towards building a mega plant in Port Harcourt. 

He said that the new plant will be a hub for the zone with new jobs added across the board.  He said that the new plant will cover 28,000 square metres.

The NBC Chairman  appealed to Governor Wike to approve a governor's consent for the acquired land when the company makes its application. 

"We want to double our production to 75million unit cases", he said.