With the current economic realities in Nigeria, Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, has canvassed for more public private partnerships to boost economic development.
The situation of dwindling crude oil prices and the consequent economic recession in the country, has made it expedient for states to explore ways to achieve development through such partnerships.
This was the view of Governor Wike, who played host to participants of senior course 39, Armed forces Command and Staff College Jaji, as they visited the state government house in Port Harcourt.
He also noted that the improved security situation in Rivers has continued to attract private partnership investments to the state.
The leader of the delegation and Director of Department of Joint Studies, Armed forces and Staff College, Brigadier General Johnson Irefin, said the theme of this year’s tour is “economic development through public private partnership”.
He explained that the “armed forces command studies tour is an environmental study tour to selected states in the country, in which participants are given the opportunity to analyse some critical socio-economic factors of the state that affect the country at large.
According to him, this visit therefore will afford participants the opportunity to have an ‘on-the-spot’ assessment of the process of economic growth, through public private partnerships”.
The governor in response, emphasized that security is key to attracting private partnership investments.
“I want to tell you that for you to have private investors, you have to create a conducive environment, and by a conducive environment, I mean security.
“When there is security it gives private investors confidence to partner with government. As a policy of this government, of course we have laws that govern public private partnerships in the state.
“We have a lot of projects that are under this arrangement. And so far we have a lot of investors that have come to partner with us in this regard.
“With the assistance of security agencies, we have been able to reduce the insecurity in the state, before now, you will agree with me that there were crisis here and there, militancy, cultism and that really affected us.
“But now with the level of security we have achieved through the help of the security agencies, investors have been trooping in everyday to find ways of partnering with government.
“Government can not do it alone, government cannot embark on all projects because of finances. ” Wike stressed.
