Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has pledged to render transparency and accountable stewardship anchored on good Governance and integrity in the State. Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said this while addressing Rivers State students studying in the United Kingdom at Chatham House London.
Governor Amaechi said “having watched our Nation suffer from the effect of mono economy, worst still, I come from a State that is centred on the oil and gas industry whose populace suffered the negative impact of oil exploration, it was important that we create new opportunities for our people not just to survive but to excel as well”.
He explained that the State Government’s decision is to focus on rebuilding confidence in Governance by focusing on development and also address the basic issues of Education, Healthcare and Physical Security. The Governor disclosed that the State currently has completed 256 Primary Schools, 500 are at various stages of construction and 300 will be commissioned before the end of the year.
He said “Our administration is also building 24 Modern Secondary Schools equipped to prepare students for life in the 21st Century, also plans are at an advanced stage to build the new campus of the State University within an environment conducive for learning and research”.
The Governor also stated that out of the 24 Modern Secondary School, one is functional and three are to be commissioned before the end of the year. On Health Care, the Governor said “the aim of Rivers State Government is to provide modern facilities that are enjoyed in the developing world and make them accessible in order to improve health care delivery in the State. He therefore reiterated that the Government has completed and commissioned 60 health facilities and will commission 70 more by the last quarter of this year.
Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi said his administration is also involved in Agriculture and employment generation by collaborating with the founder of the Songhai initiative to develop the facility suitable for Agro tourism as well as training of farmers in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State. “We are developing modern fish farm in four Local Government Areas of the State and a pilot farm with a capacity of 1,OOO tones of fish per annum that is located in Buguma which will be commissioned also in October”.
He also said that the Government has engaged in massive infrastructure development to encourage business by constructing major roads, high ways and bridges across the State including investment in power generation. According to the Governor “to sustain the works done in the State, we as a government have put in place appropriate framework that will guarantee sustenance of the work we are doing, encourage investment and expand the economy of our State”.
Governor Amaechi further, said “the State has enacted the Public Procurement law as part of the Broader Governance reform and the sub set of the Public Finance Management Reforms seeking to improve the return of investment, public value or public expenditure by insisting on planning prior to every expenditure such that the purpose must be clarified and the Potential Economic Social Development clearly identified”. The Governor disclosed that at present his administration has chosen to revive businesses and put to use wasting assets belonging to the State through the engagement of the private sectors, which has led to the revalidation of the RisonPalm Oil Industry.
In a bid to harvest the hidden abundant talents in sports in the grassroots, Coach Spiff of the Bayelsa Queens Feeder team has proposed an all secondary schools principal soccer competition in Bayelsa State.
Intimating The Newswriter sports desk, Coach Inanumo Spiff revealed that there are sports talents in Bayelsa, hence he has made a proposal to the Commissioner for Sports Bayelsa State on how possible the state government will fund his proposed sports grassroot talents hunt programme.
According to Coach Spiff, all notable secondary school principals in the state had been notified to this effect, adding that modalities for its execution have reached advanced stage.
He also disclosed that the Commissioner for Sports has given his nod to have the programme commence within the this year. According to Coach Spiff kick date for commencement will be announced soonest.
Baylesa State is one lucky state blessed with abundant sports talents, saying that except the state organizes a total grassroot sports talent hunt programme, with a view to discovering talents, the state will be losing her sports talents.
He said that the best place to harvest sports talents is the secondary school stage. It is on record that Bayelsa sports talent covers all aspect, of sports, but they are strongest found in swimming, traditional wrestling and boxing.
“For soccer Bayelsa State only needs the state government to be more dedicated in organizing an age grade soccer talent hunt programme, taking from the primary schools stage and the rest will be history to Nigeria and the international soccer scene, says coach Inanumo Spiff said. ###
