CAN THIS BE ACHIEVABLE?



Rivers ’ll get stable electricity next year –Amaechi
• Plans aerial surveillance to boost security
By Our reporter
Thursday, August 18, 2011




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Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, has disclosed plans by his administration to embark on aerial surveillance of the state to boost security. Amaechi spoke during a professionals stakeholders meeting in Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The governor said, although security in the state had improved tremendously since the inception of his administration, the government was poised to build on the success recorded so far by embarking on aerial surveillance of the state. “Before April next year, we’ll have two helicopters with surveillance cameras flying round Rivers State everyday to beef up the reconnaissance of the state.”

Amaechi said the measure would further boost security and curb crimes such as kidnapping, which he noted was now at its lowest ebb. “Now I sleep well at night and wake up to read the security report of the state. But before now, I hear it myself, because they call me as it happens,” he said.

He blamed some of the recent kidnappings reported in the state as the handiwork of some criminal elements from outside the state, but assured that his administration would make the state hot for the hoodlums.
The governor announced government’s plan to boost the activities of the Joint Military Task Force Anti-Kidnapping unit as it was collaborating with federal authorities to establish a Military Barrack at Omuma in Omuma Local Government Area.

He further explained plans by his administration to negotiate with the Federal Government to allow the state to independently distribute its generated power. “We have 130 mega watts at the Trans-Amadi Power Station but the Federal Government didn’t allow us to distribute, and the law is on their side. When I visited the power station today I was told that the Power Holding Company (PHCN) only distributes 50 out of the 130 megawatts, and that is because they currently don’t have the capacity.”

And now we are building additional 180 megawatts at Afam. We have asked the Federal Government to give us concession to do our own power distribution, they said no. But we are going ahead. We are anticipating the support of Mr. President. We have set up a committee to work out the modalities and the committee is headed by Mutiu Sunmonu, the managing director of Shell.”

Amaechi assured the people of Rivers State of improved power supply by the end of December 2012.
He also used the forum to intimate the stakeholders on the vision of his administration as he enumerated key projects, which his government had completed and was planning to complete before the end of his tenure.
He lauded them for their support during the elections, stressing that the state government is bent on tapping from their knowledge in delivering its mandate.

The governor however urged them not to relent in contributing meaningful and constructive ideas that would steer his administration to success. Responding, Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors (NIESV), Rivers State chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Okas-Wike commended the governor for his foresight and commitment to develop the state.

He urged the state chief executive to always engage the ideas of professionals in policy formulation and implementation as such attitude would give birth to synergy and understanding between the private sector and government. Similarly, Chairperson of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Rivers State and Bayelsa chapters, Mrs. Ekanma Akpan, scored the state government 70 per cent on its economic policies.
Mrs. Akpan noted that Amaechi administration had infused confidence in the various sectors of the state; especially through the long-term policies it initiated to attract investors.

“As far as we are concerned these policies are not self centered. The roads, power and infrastructure are long term projects and these are the things the next administration must continue to do.” She, however, called on the state government to establish commercial free zones in all the local government areas to boost employment generation, and stressed the need to check multiple-taxation to avoid discouraging investors.