AN ENDANGERED COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY SECTOR At the start of his administration, Governor Chibuike Amaechi proudly noted that Rivers state would be the destination of choice in view of its investment capacity. When Governor Amaechi said this, he was looking at the prospects of many investors jostling for a piece of investment opportunities in the state. One of them was an American company coming to Port Harcourt to build a 50 storey five star hotels. On his mind also was another five star hotel to be built by a South African company while an international chain will take over the running of Port Harcourt International Airport hotel. Apart from the hospitality business, the government of Governor Amaechi endorsed proposals from several investors including Messrs Hemacon International Limited and JMEC, both Chinese companies, to establish automobile plant in Rivers State. Another Chinese firm, FL Incorporated was slated to set up an activated carbon plant. Seven Up was to establish a plant in Port Harcourt. The drafting of a commerce and industry policy that will prepare the ground for investors was the icing on the cake on Governor Amaechi’s agenda. Interestingly, the document was expected to make provision for the siting of an industrial estate in Ahoada. What has become of Governor Amaechi’s redemption song to boost the investment opportunities in Rivers State? A quick check on these companies and their proposed investments shows that none of the companies had kicked off or at the verge of doing so. The private public partnership is another rich area of participation, according to Governor Amaechi when he launched the scheme. Yet, several years after its birth the leverage has not put a smile on the faces of Rivers people. One of them is the high class residential accommodation known as Rainbow Housing project. The project is still uncompleted. Karibe Whyte Specialist Hospital is another investment under Private Public Partnership. The project is being powered by Kinotech, a Canadian company. Most people are not aware of the proposed Ring road project. The Ring road is expected to be a massive 125 kilometres of expansive six lanes. Like the others, the Rivers State Monrail project is another failed enterprise. If the whole essence of the Private Public Partnership is to increase internally generated revenue through taxes and profit sharing as well as employment generation and stimulate economic activity, then something is wrong as unemployment is still walking on all four walls in the state. What is wrong is the kind of politics being placed by Governor Amaechi. No doubt, Rivers people are at the receiving end of it all. We advise Governor Amaechi to focus on governance and end any form of verbal attack on Mr. President or do anything to suggest he undermines the office or the person of the president. Another option left for Governor Amaechi to reactivate the investment in the state is for him to humble himself and reconcile with the president. One of the benefits of good relationship with the presidency is the recent inauguration of Akani Iban International Airport in Enugu. This kind of federal presence is what Rivers State needs now, and it can only happen if Governor Amaechi ends all forms of political wars. Governor Amaechi’s choice to pitch tent with the New PDP would further exacerbate the poor relations between the governor and the president. This is not what Rivers State need now.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 11:38:49 +0000