The House of Representatives Committee on Down Stream Sector has commended the Rivers state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for promoting the security of oil firms, lives and property in the state.
Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Downstream Sector, Hon. Dakuku Peterside made this commendation when he led a delegation of the committee on a courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt.
Hon Peterside acknowledged that companies in rivers state have testified to the resilience by the Amaechi administration to restore and maintain peace in the state.
However, he expressed dismay over the continued vandalization of pipelines and said the committee is taking concrete steps to eradicate the menace as well as ensure that the petroleum downstream sector achieve its desired objective to improve the nation’s economy.
Hon Peterside, who was accompanied by members of the committee, told Governor Amaechi that “one of the problems the committee has identified is the vandalization of pipelines which is the reason the refinery has shut down for three months which has greatly affected the economy of the nation”.
Amaechi, who lauded the committee for the visit, urged them to seek ways of addressing the problem of bunkering on the nation’s waterways.
He used the occasion to call for the prosecution of all those involved in the oil subsidy probe, noting that “subsidy must be removed to enable leaders work within the provisions of the nation’s budget”.
He further said that “if the nation’s funds are properly managed, there would be economic growth which in turn will create employment opportunities and eliminate the tendency of pipeline vandalism”.
The committee was in the state as part of its oversight function on some key sectors of the petroleum downstream economy, including the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the annual budget.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has urged the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation to prevail on the federal government to speedily complete the ongoing reconstruction work at the Port Harcourt International Airport.
The governor made the call Tuesday when members of the committee visited him in Government House, Port Harcourt.
He said “we congratulate the Ministry of Aviation for the innovation of repairing the airport; we pray that it should be completed. The Rivers state government will be glad to work with you for the success of your oversight function,”
Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha said the committee was in the state to inspect some capital projects especially the Port Harcourt International Airport and commended the governor for his laudable achievements.
