Follow Us on Google
From Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja
As part of his commitment to establishing more oil and free zones to boost the nation’s economy, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), Sen. Tijjani Y. Kaura, said he is seeking collaboration with the Rivers State government to develop Ikpokiri island, a green field with latent potential for wealth and job creation.
Sen. Kaura led his management team on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
In a meeting at the Executive chamber of the Government House, ways of possible collaboration and other issues of mutual interest to harness the oil and free zones potential for economic growth were discussed. Seeking the support of the Rivers governmentto develop Ikpokiri Island, the OGFZA boss revealed the myriad of opportunities available on the Island, being a green field virgin land without much development since it was declared a free zone in 1996. He said “if the state government would take advantage of the area to support OGFZA in the development effort, Ikpokiri would become another modern city in the state”.
He disclosed that investors from Japan have already indicated interest in investing on the Island.
According to Sen. Kaura, partnering with OGFZA towards the development of Ikpokiri Island was critical and beneficial to promote investment and economic development for creating wealth and employment opportunities for Rivers State and Nigeria by extension.
For his part, Fubara who expressed concern over the East-West Road, however appreciated the OGFZA’s boss and his management for identifying with the state government while expressing his willingness to partner with the Authority in due course.
