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The Rivers State Government has stated that it will promote, strengthen and implement the use of Artificial Intelligence in waste management to maximise its economic potentials for the benefit of Rivers people.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara said this shortly after the official signing ceremony of two Memoranda of Understanding on the development of a $300 million Waste-to-Wealth project, 200mw power plant, smart e-mobility, 20 tonnes of carbon capture, storage and other innovations.
The MoUs with Intec and Omene Group of Companies, among other things are designed to convert waste to wealth, generate electricity, boost employment opportunities as well as increase the state’s revenue base.
The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Justice in Port Harcourt on Thursday night.
This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Friday morning by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukeudi, and sent to newsmen.
Represented by the Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, the governor noted with delight that the state government in May 2024, held the investment and economic summit, the first of its kind in Nigeria.
He added that thereafter, an Executive Order heralding the birth of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency was signed to drive investments in the State.
He explained, “Today, we have signed two memoranda of understanding between the Rivers State Government and Omene Nigeria Limited, essentially to manage waste, convert waste to wealth and create massive employment for Rivers people.
“Waste management has been a sour point on the people and the environment worldwide, and Rivers State is not an exception.
“The Rivers state government spends millions of naira for waste collation and disposal, with no significant result but by these memos, there is a leap forward.”
Fubara expressed joy at the collaboration, saying that the benefit of the waste-to-wealth project will grow the state’s economy, create jobs for the teeming youths, keep the state clean and peaceful, and generate 200 Megawatts electricity daily in addition to 20 tonnes of carbon capture, which will be traded as carbon credit.
He expressed optimism that there would be no hitches in the collaboration and execution of the project, adding that the state will be the first in Nigeria to successfully achieve a waste-to-wealth project with modern technology.
The Chief Executive Officer of Omene Group, Franklin Omene, said that the company will be working with other foreign investors to convert waste to wealth.
While appreciating the governor for making the investment possible in his administration, Omene said their effort is to complement what the Rivers state Waste Management Authority is doing, explaining that the Rivers state Economic and Investment Summit gave birth to the collaboration.
He said converting waste to wealth is what his company is known for all over the world, stressing that Intec Group, as a reliable group of companies, will help realize the project for the state and its environs.
Also speaking, representative of the partners, German-based Intec Group, Srinibach Tepal, thanked the Rivers state government for creating an enabling environment for investors to invest in, noting that although the project is at no cost to the Government of Rivers state, they have built a smart business model to ensure productive and speedy transformation of the State.
The MoU signing ceremony was witnessed by the Acting Sole Administrator of RIWAMA, Obi Ohia, and Franklin Bottino of Intec Group, among others.