Rivers can help Nigeria out of recession, Wike says

A new investment in Rivers State worth N140 billion may create 3,500 jobs and boost power supply in the oil region. To this effect, Governor Nyesom Wike of says Rivers State remains Nigeria’s investment icon with the potential of helping the country exit its current economic downturn.

The chairman of Greenville Nigeria Limited, owners of GreenGas LNG facility, Eddy van Den Broeke, says the project covers 42 hectares and will employ between 3,000 and 3,500 workers upon completion, saying at present, 80 workers are daily at the project site.

On completion, 250 trucks will load from the facility, while it will generate 150 megawatts of electricity to serve Rivers State and Nigeria, Broeke says.

The chairman says the gas produced at the facility will help other parts of the country produce 600 megawatts of electricity, saying he is in the state to form a partnership with the state government for necessary economic growth.

Speaking after leading members of the Rivers State executive council and Rivers elder statesmen on a tour of the N140 billion facility being constructed in Rumuji, Emohua Local Government Area on Friday, Governor Wike said the state was critical to any plan to revive the nation’s economy.

He said: “Despite the negative propaganda being sponsored by opposition politicians in the state, investors have continued to troop to our state. This GreenGas LNG facility, which will serve different states in the south and North has attracted over N140 billion worth of investment to the country.

“I am happy that our investments in the security agencies have continued to yield fruits with greater investor confidence. For us, we will continue to provide the enabling environment for foreign investors to bring their funds to Rivers State.”

Wike said the project would further expand the economy of the state, and urged the people of  Rumuji community to cooperate with  the  investors as they would always benefit  from  the  GreenGas LNG facility.

“Rivers State is key to the development of this country. Foreign investors know this fact. There is no reason why anyone who wants to develop the  economy of this country will ignore this State.  Today, the $1.5 Bn Indorama Fertiliser Plant is on stream and now we are in the process of having the N140Bn GreenGas LNG facility,” he said.