We have stabilised Rivers state’s economy – Governor Wike

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that his administration has stabilised the economy of the state through the strategic release of funds via payment of salaries and payment for key projects.

Governor Wike explained that he started with the renewal of infrastructure in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The governor also assured the people of the state that every local government area of the state will execute key projects in all the 23 Local Government Areas, stressing that no local government area 1 will be denied the impact of good governance.

The governor spoke on Monday in Port Harcourt during a town hall meeting tagged: “Accounting for Governor Nyesom Wike’s Administration: One Year After”.

He said: “We have stabilised the economy of Rivers State since we took of the reins of leadership in the state. We achieved the stabilisation of the economy by injecting N151b as salaries and payment of contractors.

“These funds have helped us to rebuild our economy which was badly damaged by the immediate past administration”.

The governor said that no project will be abandoned by his administration.

According to him, his administration will only award projects that will be completed within the life-span of his administration.

He said the renewal of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas have enhanced the economy of the state as more investors are confident to invest in the state.

He noted that 46 roads have been reconstructed under the Operation Zero Potholes, adding that 15 roads abandoned by the immediate past administration completed and 27 new roads initiated by his administration have been completed and commissioned.

He announced that the State Government is building an ICT compliant security infrastructure to help fight crime and empower the security agencies to be more proactive.

Governor Wike stated that measures have been put in place to tackle cultism across the state.

He said: “When I met with the President, I told him that we will tackle cultism and insecurity in four local government areas. They are Abua/Odual, Ahoada East, Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.”

He warned against the politicisation of crime, blaming a particular political party for claiming suspected cultists who murder others as their members.

He said that the administration has started the phased rehabilitation of schools in three senatorial districts, completed the Faculty of Law, paid for science consumables and restored NECO in the state.

He said his administration will continue to subsidise education, but added that the people should be prepared to pay maintenance fees to assist the state government run the educational institutions.

He said: “I did not promise free education, because I know that it does not work. I only assured that we will provide quality education for the people. There is no free education anywhere in the country. All those claiming free education are playing politics”.

The governor said that the needs assessment of all the General Hospitals in the state have been completed, pointing out that phased rehabilitation of the hospitals in earnest.

Going forward, the governor said that employment opportunities will be created via agriculture and industrialization.

He also said he will work towards creating jobs for physically challenged persons who are educated.

He said: “Employment generation will be our focus in the next one year. We shall support entrepreneurship to create more jobs for the people”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Former Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Iche Ndu praised the governor for being transparent and accountable to the people.

He said Governor Wike had performed creditably in transforming the state.

Highpoint of the town hall meeting was the immediate employment offered to three physically challenged persons.