Chief of Staff to the Rivers State Governor, Engineer Chukwuemeka Woke has urged investors to take advantage of the benefits of harmonised tax regime and establish their business endeavours in Rivers State.
Engineer Woke made the appeal at the official opening ceremony of an Ultra Modern 270 thousand capacity Mega Petrol Filling Station along the Emohua axis of the East-West Road and it is owned by the Value Gas Supply and Trading Company Limited.
Determined to create enabling investment climate, the chief of staff said the Wike administration addressed security challenges with a security architecture code named “Operation Sting” and has sustained effort in road construction to ease mobility.
“Today, we are standing here along the East-West Road to commission this project. About one or two years ago, it wouldn’t have been possible without a good number of security men guiding us.
“So, with the launching of the new security architecture, code named Operation Sting, all the menace along the East-West Road have been cleared. You should be rest assured that you’re going to operate here without any security challenges.
“His excellency the governor has also rejigged the tax regime to ensure the ease of doing business in Rivers state. If you see any tout in this premises coming to collect any tax, please don’t hesitate to report to the state. The local government council is only authorised to collect tenement rate,.
“The reason is that we want to encourage investors to come and invest in our state because we belief that when there is investment there will be employment.”
Speaking further, the chief of staff said, when employment is crated there is a multiplier effect that also improves the economy status of the state.
“Beyond the employment, of course it will improve the internally generated revenue of the state.
The state government is also building critical infrastructure in the area of roads. The whole idea is to ease the doing of business.
“Let me assure you that as a state, as a local government and an indigene of Emohua, we will do everything to support your business. I also urge the chairman of the occasion and my leader, Senator Andrew Uchendu to invite other investors to come to Emohia to invest because it is safe. Rivers state is safe.”
The managing Director and Chief Executive officer of Value Gas Supply and Trading Company Limited, Mr. Diepirirye Morrison Tariah said they are motivated to establish the facility as a contribution to the economic development of the state, and also to create jobs for the youths.
“Our passion to see our state develop back into the regional hub. This project among other ones is part of our humble contributions to the economic development of our dear state which we love so dearly thereby creating employment opportunities for the immediate community.
“Sitting this Mega Filling Station here could not be more strategic than first , because Port Harcourt City is fast becoming proliferated with such downstream facilities. Second, we consider Emohua as the artery of the East-West highway to the South-South and South-East geopolitical regions.”
December 9, 2020
