Education: Gov Amaechi Woos NNPC

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has appealed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for partnership in the construction of the state’s model secondary schools.The call was one of the highpoints of the recent visit by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Alhaji Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo and top managers of the corporation to the Governor recently in Port Harcourt. The Governor told the NNPC boss that the state was planning to build 23 model secondary schools in different parts of the state and that it requires the collaboration of all stakeholders including corporate citizens of Rivers.According to the governor, the state took the decision to invest in education to boost the quality of products of its education system and consequently reduce the level of criminality among its youths. Governor Amaechi urged the NNPC to join other corporate bodies that already partnering with his administration on the project which according to him would cost N3.5billion each or about N80.5Billion.He specifically tasked NNPC to undertake one of the school project, disclosing that “some banks are also partnering with us on 60/40 basis, but we think that NNPC can build one, and we appeal to you to honour us by accepting to build one of the schools since we are investing in security to make your operation smooth”. Governor Amaechi assured the Group Managing Director that his administration was determined to do its best in terms of providing security, despite being a federal responsibility, since the impact is felt by people of the state. Speaking earlier, the Group Managing Director  lauded Governor Amaechi for what he referred to as his extra-ordinary effort in ensuring the security of NNPC personnel and facilities in the state. He also called for federal government’s recognition of such uncommon nationalistic zeal as exemplified by the Rivers State Government by assisting the state because of the cost implication of its routine security operation on the treasury of the state.