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| Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (L), joined by the Rep. of Nigeria’s Vice President, Mr.Ade Ikpaye (Deputy Chief of Staff to the V.P) (M), receives the original document of the Eco Industrial Park, proposed for Bayelsa State, from the Principal Partner, AD Consulting, Mrs. Jumoke Adenowo, during the 2nd Bayelsa State Investment & Economic Forum, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa. |
Hon. Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa
State Governor, on Thursday urged the Federal Government and investors to
partner with his administration in the development of investment opportunities
in the state to drive its industrialisation efforts.
The Governor made the plea
at the second edition of the Bayelsa State Investment and Economic Forum with
the theme, “Unfolding Bayelsa State’s Industrial future,” declared open by the
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in Yenagoa.
According to the governor,
it pays willing investors to look at the direction of Bayelsa, as it is endowed
with abundant resources and it would make a good economic sense for businesses
to be sited close to their sources of raw materials.
He highlighted the areas in
which they can have collaboration including the establishment of a world-class
Eco-industrial park, power generation, Brass oil and gas free trade zone and
the Agge Deep Sea port among other key projects.
“We are actually talking
about an industrial park that has taken off. So, for those who are thinking and
rightly so, how this wonderful concept can become a reality, we already have it
in reality. It is on ground. We have Shell’s investment there of about N4
billion dollars already completed. We also have a Federal Government’s NIPP’s
project that has just been privatised, which is also very expensive. All we are
doing is to showcase it to the rest of the investing public and to assure
everybody of our preparedness to partner going forward,” Dickson stated.
He said other notable projects
in the state, when completed have the capacity to create wealth, employment
generation and boost food production as well as increase the revenue profile of
the State, adding that a large expanse of land has already been made available
as incentive for investors in power generation at Imiringi, in Ogbia local
government as well as Gbarantoru in Yenagoa.
In his remarks, the Vice
president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Ade
Ipaye, called on the state government to adopt very strict codes of business
ethics and zero tolerance for corruption, as vital guides in its investment
drive.
“Investors want to see
crimes under control as well as a secure and peaceful atmosphere for business.
A lot of attention must therefore, be paid to the law enforcement and criminal
justice sectors towards improving its speed, effectiveness and efficiency,”
Osinbajo said.
Also speaking, the
Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Investment, Barr. Kemela Okara said the
2-day summit was aimed at consolidating the gains already made in the previous
summit. He explained that this year’s objective is to provide a focused, yet
rich opportunities where the states can play a pivotal role in the
transformation of the Nigerian economy.
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