Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan makes his first official visit to the Niger Delta this week.
He is expected to commission a number of projects in Rivers state and hold discussions with regional leaders.
Topics include militancy in the region and the government's amnesty program for the oil-rich but restive area.
River state Governor Chubuike Amaechi says Mr. Jonathan’s visit is significant to the people of the area.
“To the people of Rivers State it will be delightful to welcome the President who as you know had lived the greater part of his life in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. He was once a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt and had his first degree and I guess his P.H.D at the University of Port Harcourt.So it is homecoming for the president and the home is very prepared to receive him.”
Governor Amechi says President Jonathan will commission a number of projects in line with the administration’s goal of improving the lives of the people in the region.
“There are quite a number of projects he will commission.He is going to commission some roads,he is going to commission a lot of the 350 primary schools we have built and are under construction,and he will commission one of them.”
He says President Jonathan will also commission a power plant in line with his pledge to give priority to the area to spur economic growth.
“He would commission a power plant.We have 100 megawatts of power that is ready,which we have completed and then lay the foundation stone of the monorail.Power is a catalyst to industrial development.Business climate in Nigeria and products are not competitive because of the absence of infrastructure which includes power.”
Governor Amaechi says the president will also address the Niger Delta issue.
“He is a new president, he is thinking a lot of how to handle that and don’t forget he also comes from the Niger Delta, so he knows the problem and how the amnesty was handled and how to move it forward.”