Managing Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Babs Omotowa, has explained how the Rivers State Governor,  Chibuike  Amaechi created the enabling environment in the State which facilitated the relocation of the NLNG corporate headquarters back to Port Harcourt.

Speaking during a courtesy call on Governor Amaechi in Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, the NLNG Managing Director said, “we are very grateful for the work you have done over the years, that have created the enabling environment which have allowed us to bring back our headquarters here (Port Harcourt) and we are finding Rivers State very, very conducive for our head office.  We thank you very much.

“I have come on a courtesy call, having just assumed position as the Managing Director of NLNG on the 1st of February this year.  I also want to mention that NLNG did relocate to Port Harcourt about three months ago and I am pleased to say that we have had no incident since our arrival in Port Harcourt.  More than 70 per cent of our staff live in the Port Harcourt city and we have had no incident”.

The NLNG Managing Director also commended Governor Amaechi’s development efforts in Rivers State. “We also like to appreciate all your efforts in the development of Rivers State, in the infrastr-uctural development that we are all witnessing and seeing in roads, schools, healthcare; these have also contributed to the conducive environment that we have found ourselves.

“So,  I want to thank you personally and also for several other things that you have been doing for NLNG. Of recent, we also want to appreciate your effort and your administration in terms of the support you provided in allowing us to get a few more nurses to the hospital in Bonny.

“This has helped us in our drive to improve on healthcare support to the Bonny people. We also appreciate your efforts in helping us to get land for the model(secondary) school that needs to be built in Bonny.  Work is now ongoing.”

Governor Amaechi congratulated the new NLNG Managing Dire-ctor, Mr. Omotowa on his appointment, and expre-ssed the hope that the warm relationship his predecessor had with the Rivers State Government would continue.

The Rivers State Chief Executive and Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) noted that there are promises NLNG had made to the State which they are struggling to keep.

“I say struggle because it is more than two years since those promises were made.  One of them is the secondary school you talked about. We are in dire need of that school so that we can begin to train our children with the facilities.  We have completed one and about three of such schools are almost ready. We will be glad if NLNG can complete the one you are building quickly… We will also be glad to partner with NLNG in the area of health.”

On security in Rivers State, Governor Amaechi noted that there are security breaches all over the world.  “I usually joke with my friends in the oil industry, I say you people complain about Nigeria and insecurity but you do business in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In fact, particularly in Iraq because of oil, and we all know Nigeria is not worse than Iraq in terms of security.”

Giving his position on the causes of crime in the society, Governor Amaechi said, “what causes crime actually is not location, it is basically poverty and injustice.  So, if we address the issue of unemployment and wealth creation, our crime rate would reduce, and we are working hard to do that in Rivers State.”

“Let me again on behalf of my cabinet and Rivers people congratulate you on your recent appointment and say that Rivers people are waiting for you people to build your headquarters as soon as possible because once you start, employment will be created through that process.

“There is no way you build a ten-storey building and use only 500 workers, it certainly will be above that and 80 per cent of the 500 workers may likely come from Rivers State. There is a need for NLNG to provide opportunities for Rivers people.”