Business
Rivers Strategic Economic Dev: The Jesse Jackson, Emeka Anyaoku Testimonies
At a time when most economies in different regions of the world including those of the most advanced societies are getting downgraded, the strategic economic and development initiatives in today’s Rivers State rather got top endorsement last week from highly rated quarters.
The architect of this great transformational development taking place in this corner of Nigeria, the governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has been declared as ‘Nigeria’s hope and future’.
One of the foremost Back-American civil rights activists, the highly respected reverend, Jesse Jackson, thinks Governor Amaechi represents the ‘future and hope of Nigeria ’. Together with the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku, in the Garden City, both international icons put the weights of their reputations together to rate Amaechi. They declared him a high performer, a man to watch.
They did this while speaking at a dinner and command performance of Prof. Chinua Achebe’s political satire – ‘A Man of The People’. This took place in Government House, Port Harcourt as part of the 2011 Garden City Literary Festival in Government House, last Wednesday.
The renowned reverend who was full of praises for the country’s democratic growth observed that Governor Amaechi represents the new spirit in consolidating Nigeria ‘s fledgling democracy. Similarly, Anyaoku declared: “I could see Rivers State is fast approaching a level of development and from what I have seen, it is wonderful coming to the Garden City Literary Festival.”
The latest endorsements represent a huge vote of confidence in the efforts to reposition Rivers State as an emerging market worthy of the attention of serious investors within and outside of Africa .
Businesses in Nigeria tend to use their Port Harcourt presence to grow their turn-overs and bottomline. In doing so, they also grow the GDP of the state and help to confirm the Garden City as the economic hob of Nigeria and oil centre in West Africa. Multinational corporations seem to confirm this trend more than any other group of businesses.
This scenario comes with enormous responsibility on state government especially in providing security of lives and assets, infrastructure and social services such as education and health facilities to support the metropolitan complexity of the city.
Security in particular posed the greatest challenge few years ago requiring my boss, upon emerging as the next governor, to make difficult decisions and fight to retake the city from gangs and gunmen masquerading as militants and freedom fighters. Today, the Garden City is regarded as one of the safest cities in Nigeria .
Infrastructure has taken a huge chunk of the income of the state. Studies show that boost in infrastructure leads to a corresponding increase in the GDP of any society. This means that capacity is directly related to force of infrastructure and it is increase in business volume that would positively affect economic boom.
This explains the rush for massive road construction (over 900km, 35 bridges, five flyovers) in the state. This may sound abstract to outsiders but considering the riverine nature of the state and the difficult terrain that limits business communication, road development becomes a must.
Power alone has been isolated in various studies by both local and international groups as one most important factor that must be urgently addressed with suicidal determination if Nigeria was to think of any serious economic start-off. With less than 4000mw when at least 10000 mw is needed, businesses can only seek solace outside Nigeria , seek self-help through expensive alternatives or face certain liquidation. This is why our state governor is determined in his pursuit of a power self-sufficiency status in Rivers State, a quest that has cost the state over N100 billion even when another N75Bn is needed right now. Soon, the state will hit her desired target.
Rivers State is investing heavily in education and health as critical components of the economic drive. The governor is replacing the 1000 obsolete primary schools in the state with 750 model primary schools that have won local and international acclaim. There are 24 ongoing international standards secondary schools with computer capabilities, each built with N4.5bn.
Another strategic initiative by the present administration is the recourse to accessing capital to fast-track these mega projects which include flyovers, some key roads, the schools, the medical facilities including Clinotech Centre, the new UST, monorail project, etc.
– Ibim Semenitari, Mrs, is the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Rivers State; isemenitari@riversstate.gov.ng.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.
