The Rivers State Government says Local Government Councils have a pivotal role to play in the quest to make Rivers State an Investors’ Haven and Destination of Choice.
Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo stated this during a meeting between the State Ease Doing Business Council (EODBC) and Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday, 27th February, 2020.
Dr. Banigo said the meeting is designed to enlist the participation of the Council Chairmen who are closer to the grass roots in driving the process that would make the State actualize the goal of making Rivers State the ultimate investors’ haven.
According to the Deputy Governor the bane of business within the State has been the issue of multiplicity of taxes and the crude method used by Local Government Councils to collect revenue.
“If we are to succeed in redefining the business climate in Rivers State, the re-registration of businesses which will employ modern techniques should be embraced by all and sundry” the Deputy Governor stressed.
Dr. Banigo further said “this move by the Rivers State Ease of Doing Business Council (EODBC) is aimed at proffering initiatives for the Public and Private Sectors to work in synergy to actively drive investments into Rivers State through active promotion of investment potentials of the State”.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that the State is Lucky to have 23 Local Government Areas with abundant peculiarities in resources, noting that among these resources are non-oil potentials of the State for investment promotion.
Dr. Banigo who said the State Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Agriculture and Local Government Affairs as major stakeholders are to be engaged to clearly identify and develop these potentials turning them into employment creation and economic empowerment avenues at the Local Government level.
She disclosed that Business Investment cases would be developed along these lines to make the opportunities investment ready. These investment cases would be added into the Investment Compendium for the State.
Dr. Banigo also said a synergy between the public and private sector would be encouraged to facilitate investments in these areas and develop them into wealth creation mechanisms.
“This will be done by prioritizing the sectors based on comparative advantage and putting in place PPP strategy to attract investments into the development of the priority sectors”.
The Deputy Governor said “the EODBC emphasizes the centrality of the Investment Promotion in its economic development thereby positioning Rivers State as one of the best three (3) Investment Destinations in Nigeria”.
She urged the Chairmen to support the Ease of Doing Business Council to work out strategies that would reduce the cost of doing business and boost investors’ confidence in Rivers State, stressing that “we all owe posterity the duty to redefine our future and collectively help His Excellency Governor Wike build the business environment that we all desire”.
Earlier, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Solomon Eke who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said as Chairmen of the various Local Government Area they are committed to every programme of the State Government as well as practical engagements that would emanate from the Ease of Doing Business Council of the State.
