Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, has assured of the state government’s support towards the full operation of a private refinery in the state by next year.
The governor expressed the hope that that most people with money to invest would come to Akwa Ibom State because "our government is prepared to remove all the roadblocks and impediments that have militated against the commencement of business . Addressing newsmen in Abuja after meeting with President Umaru Yar’Adua at the Presidential Villa, the governor said the refinery which is an initiative of some Akwa Ibom State indigenes abroad, will be the first major private public partnership (PPP) in the refinery sector.
"The licence has been given, and with this agreement that we have made now, the state is promoting it, we are now shareholders, and we have agreed on the nature of the business, vis-a-vis the interest of the state, as well as the private interest.
"NEXIM Bank is involved, as well as the American International Bank.
"So, as it is today, we are very hopeful that for the first time in the struggle to deregulate the refining sector of the petroleum sector in the country, this is the first major one that is going to work out.
"I am very excited that it is sited in Akwa-Ibom State, and the government is playing a major role in that direction," enthused Akpabio.
He disclosed that only finer details of the project are pending and that "by 2009 we should begin to see products coming out in that area.
"The state government is very happy, so far, with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum, for the fact that that licence has been revalidated, and my intention as governor is to ensure that we work closely with the private sector to bring that refinery into reality".
Akpabio also spoke on other PPP projects, saying that "we are collaborating with major investors within the country and outside the country for major infrastructural development in Akwa-Ibom State.
"It is only in the area of private sector partnership that we can create employment opportunities for our people, so we are doing that.
"For example, in the entertainment industry, we are at the verge of commencing the building of a galleria for the entertainment industry that will come complete with a five-star hotel.
"We also have about six film viewing centres, and this will also come in with an in-built shopping mall, because the economy is changing and the idea of marketing must also change, our people must have better markets to go into".
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