RSG, UK RESOLVE TO STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIP


The Rivers State Government and the Government of the United Kingdom  have resolved  to strengthen their partnership   with  a view to enhancing development.

The two governments reached the agreement on Thursday  at the Government House, Port Harcourt  when the Director of the United Kingdom Department For International Development  (DFID) in charge of West and Southern Africa,  Mr Keith McGigan held discussions with  Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

Governor Wike  stated that the state government wants to strengthen  its  partnership  with the Government of the United Kingdom in the area of security,  technical education  and agriculture.

He said though the state government  working with security agencies  has improved  security,  the government  is interested in collaborating with the United Kingdom  to deploy technology  to fight kidnapping and enhance  intelligence  gathering.

"Though we have some security  challenges, we have worked  with  security  agencies  to  stabilise the state and create the right atmosphere  for investments.  However, we want to partner  with  the United Kingdom  to further improve  security,  especially in  the  areas of the acquisition of equipment for crime fighting  and intelligence gathering.

"Without security,  governance  and security will be negatively  affected ".

He also called for collaboration  with  the United Kingdom in the area of technical education,  where he stated that the state government  will develop  a  programme  where technical  education  teachers will be trained in Britain for the purpose  of  equipping  them with practical  knowledge on how to impact knowledge on their students for vocational  skills acquisition.

He said that his administration  is interested in job creation through vocational education,  hence the need to revive the sector.

Governor Wike announced that the state government  government  will create easy access to land for British  Investors who are willing to  invest in agriculture.

He urged the United Kingdom to improve on its relationship with its former colonies like the French Government has done over the years.

Earlier, the Director of the United Kingdom Department For International Development  (DFID) in charge of West and Southern Africa,  Mr Keith McGigan said the United Kingdom  is interested in developing  functional  development oriented relationship  with  the Rivers State Government.

He said that the United Kingdom has a strong  relationship with  the  Federal Government which it has resolved  to extend  to the states.

"We want to  build a strong  relationship with  the  Rivers State Government.  I am here to discuss how we can foster development", he said.

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