Governor Amaechi: We’ve Restored Peace

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said his administration succeeded in bringing back peace to the state through the determination to do so in the face of militancy and criminality that pervaded the state before he became governor.

Amaechi, who is also chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), while speaking at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt over the weekend, at a send-forth party marking the end of service for out-going Managing Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Mr. Chima Ibeneche, explained that security in the state had greatly improved since he became governor.

“We can recall that there was security crisis in Rivers State when I became governor. There was no night life. Businesses could not operate at night. But now security has improved in the state”, Amaechi said.

He re-assured the management of NLNG of his government’s support and preparedness to provide a peaceful atmosphere in the state for business and investment to thrive.“Things are beginning to change in Rivers State,” he added.

Amaechi praised the out-going NLNG managing director for his sterling leadership qualities as well as his increased awareness and compliance with corporate governance which made the company to succeed.

He said his administration was committed to building roads to link multinational firms and the rest of the state.

“You may also know that my administration has also built the Rumuigbo road, the Elekahia – Rumumasi road and others, but you must also know that we have built model primary and secondary schools, these are physical development projects,” he said.

In his response, Ibeneche acknowledged that security in Rivers State had improved and commended the Amaechi administration for the achievement.

“One reason that gave the NLNG confidence to come to Port Harcourt was indeed the improved security of the state.  We don’t take security and safety of our employees lightly at all… we took time to do surveys and studies about the state of security in Rivers State and clearly it was evident that things have changed in the last four years.  So our
coming here is a vote of confidence in appreciation of what Governor Amaechi had done,”
he said.

“At the height of militancy when it would appear that everything was going to fall apart and the NLNG might not be able to function, it was the Rivers State Government that first took the initiative to increase the presence of Federal Government security agencies in Bonny that gave us assurance to stay.

“The Amaechi Government did that without our begging for it, so when we decided to come to Port Harcourt, the Rivers state government did not beg us; we decided to come”