Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on youths of Bayelsa State communities to stop hostile activities that hinder the state development.
He said that hostilities scare away investors, appealing to the youths of the state to always work in collaboration with the traditional institutions of their various communities and shun making themselves obstacles to the development brought to the state by investors.
Jonathan stated this during the groundbreaking ceremony of the ERASKON Integrated manufacturing complex and lubricant product launch, in Gbarain Community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
He commended the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, describing him as a lucky man for creating the enabling environment for investors to invest massively in the state.
Jonathan, who also served briefly as the state governor said, “I remember when we first started, this part of Bayelsa was the rural part of the whole Rivers State, and see what we have today, for the state to grow we need to attract investors.
“The short time I was governor, I spoke with a lot of Nigerian investors to come invest in the state, and even offer some inducement to them if they can come and invest in the state, because the only way you can create jobs for citizens of the state is to industrialise. They all refused after given reasons on how they won’t get their returns.
“I knew that one day, they will come and invest to open up the state, and that is what we are witnessing today. Diri is a lucky person.
“And also Engr. Wabote, thank you. I am pleased with what is happening today.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board,
Engr. SIMBI WABOTE, said that the groundbreaking was another very important milestone in the push of NCDMB to deepen local content and reduce importation of products we could produce locally.
Noting that Nigeria currently consumes about 250 million liters of engine oils per annum, he said “this consumption grows at more than 5 per cent every year due to the addition of new vehicles and machineries.”
“The in-country blending capacity has remained constant at about 150 million liters showing a shortage of about 100million liters. This shortfall is met by importation of finished lube oil products with the attendant loss of revenue and job opportunities,” he added.