Governor Nyesom Wike.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has stated that Niger Delta stays the hub for oil manufacturing and growth in Nigeria.
Wike made the declaration on the weekend in the course of the launch of “Defiant Embers”, a documentary highlighting the financial alternatives within the Niger Delta, organized by the British High Commission in Nigeria at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs.) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, stated even if the oil-rich area is the source of 70 % of Nigeria’s overseas change earnings, over 70 % of the inhabitants within the area stay on an common of lower than US$2 a day.
As said by him, Rivers produces 40 % of Nigerian oil and 60 % of Nigerian gasoline with a per capita earnings of $three,965, which compares favourably with the nationwide per capita of $2,640.
Wike famous that lack of consideration by the Federal Government to the dredging of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Wharf had led to a number of job losses for Niger Delta youths, thereby rising youth restiveness and unemployment.
He lamented the deplorable situation of the East-West Road resulting in the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, saying it has rendered the area moribund with a massive pool of expert and unskilled manpower within the state.
Wike disclosed that his administration has initiated a RIVSJOBS platform which retains a database that allows employers and job seekers to interface.
This, he stated, was along with large street infrastructural growth which has successfully opened up all of Port Harcourt metropolis, making it extra investor-friendly with improved safety outlay.
Wike, whereas commending the British High Commissioner and his crew on the British High Commission, Abuja, for the laudable initiative of elevating financial consciousness within the Niger Delta by means of the documentary, nonetheless, expressed the necessity for Nigeria to have free, honest and credible polls in 2019.