Economic investment: Rivers State a safe haven, Wike says.

The environment in Rivers state is increasingly becoming safe for economic investors from all over the world. This was declared by the state governor, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.Speaking on Saturday night at a dinner to mark the 20th Anniversary of Air France flying into Port Harcourt International Airport, Governor Wike said that the safe environment was facilitated by the investments of his administration in the maintenance of security.

Governor Wike stated: “Port Harcourt is becoming safer every day because of the commitment of the administration to the security of lives and property.

He used the occasion to commend Rivers people who invested in the economic development of the state, saying, “We will do everything to build on the confidence of investors to do business in Rivers State.” The governor said that attracting investments remained critical to the rapid development of the state because it would generate employment.

It is a priority for us to attract investors for our people to be employed. That is why we make security a priority,” he said, and berated opposition leaders engaged in negative propaganda against the people on security issues.

Governor Wike pointed out that they refused to acknowledge the fact that Rivers was more secure than Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, Benue, and Kano where kidnappers and murderers, according to him, ravaged urban communities as reported daily. He continued: “Investors are coming to Rivers regularly and they are talking about insecurity. Look at what is happening in Lagos, Kogi, Kaduna, and Kano and you will realise that this state is the safest.”

Speaking at the occasion, the French Consulate, Laurent Poloceaux, said that French businesses were already thriving in Rivers State with schools, businesses, and Air France.

The Air France Manager, Jean Raul Tanzin, said that Air France became the first international airline to fly into the Port Harcourt International Airport 20 years ago, adding that Air France has weathered challenges to deliver quality services to the people of Rivers State and other Niger Delta states.

At the commissioning of the Echelon Height Hotel earlier, Governor Wike said that the hotel constructed by indigenes of the state was an encouragement to other persons to invest their resources in the state.

He said that the huge population and economic activities across the state indicated that the state was viable for investments, stating that the state government would partner with the hotel, but urged the management to pay their taxes regularly.