Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has ended his first two-year in office with a pledge to remain committed to his covenant that state resources would be wisely managed for the good of all in the remaining years of the administration.

The governor made the pledge on Monday in a state broadcast to mark his second year in office. Tagged, ‘Time to Consolidate’, the governor’s speech stressed on the regime’s unwavering belief in placing the common good above selfish interests.

’Our belief that the prime purpose of government is the common good of the people remains unshakeable. It is this resolve that has informed our policy of transparency, due process, popular participation and best practices in governance” he said.

Rendering his two-year stewardship in governance, the governor said that although some modest progress has been, recorded, “there is a lot more work to be done” and urged for, “even greater support” from the people to enable a consolidation of the collective efforts to build a new and more prosperous Rivers State.
On security, the governor noted that by the embrace of the amnesty programme by youths of the state, “our worst days are over in the state” pointing out that what remained is for the government to confront the challenges of resettlement, rehabilitation and reintegration of the former militants.

He was quick to urge that the amnesty programme, “should not be seen as an end in itself, but rather, as a means towards addressing once and for all, the seemingly intractable problems of the Niger Delta region”.
In the area of infrastructural development, Governor Amaechi said over N100 billion was spent annually on roads while 24 major roads were completed with 162 others at different stages of completion during the period.

In the education sector where the government declared a State of Emergency at its inception, he said that apart from taking over payment of Primary and Junior Secondary School teachers’ salaries from Local Governments, the state government has commenced the construction of 250 primary schools and 24 new secondary schools.

Already, 100 of the primary schools have been completed and would be put to use before year’s end. Similar success was also recorded in the Health sector where 53 out of 150 primary health centres being constructed to replace existing dilapidated ones, have been completed while work has commenced on a 150 million US Dollars 1000-bed specialist hospital named after Justice Karibi-Whyte.

On power generation, the governor hinted that as part of efforts to ensure that the state meets its energy needs, 100 megawatts of power would be added to the grid by the end of November bringing total megawatts generated in the State to 280.
Also, electricity supply was extended to more than 30 new rural communities and a major injection sub-station in Borokiri constructed during the period. Governor Amaechi who commended, “the positive attitude of opposition groups” in the state, assured that government policies in the years ahead would always be people-oriented and value driven.