The Rivers State Government says not less than 18,000 youths will be engaged during the construction and completion of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, Train 7 project.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment, Dr. Leloonu Nwibubasa, said this in Port Harcourt while addressing newsmen.

Nwibubasa explained that a strategic action plan to create one million jobs in the state in the next five years is being worked out, adding that the plan is realizable.

He stated that in preparation for the NLNG Train-7 project, special construction skill training and empowerment linkages was ongoing, adding that people were also being recruited.

According to him, “LNG Train7 offers an opportunity to employ as much as 18,000 workers into the new train7 that will start this year. Construction skill training and empowerment linkages in preparation for NLNG Train7 is ongoing. We are beginning to recruit people.

“Rivers State is already preparing for that opportunity. We are calling on all stakeholders to join us in this preparation and get our people ready.”

The commissioner also disclosed that the 2019 appropriation bill presented to the Rivers State House of Assembly by Governor Nyesom Wike recently showed that the state government was interested in providing jobs for the people.

He said that the Governor Wike-led administration came in at the time of recession and that the governor wanted Rivers people to stay in jobs, which explains why he started massive road construction.