Date Published: 03/26/10

CHURCHES ADMONISHED TO CONCENTRATE ON WINNING SOULS FOR GOD By Idaimi Eazee Joseph

Churches have been told to concentrate in the business of winning more souls for the kingdom of God rather than illegally delving into areas that are alien to their calling.

This assertion was made by the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Engr. Vincent Adonye Kingston Furo (JP) following the ongoing trade fair put together by the Living Faith Church (a.k.a Winners Chapel), without proper consultation with constituted authorities.

Engr. Furo who spoke during a courtesy call on the Rivers state honourable Commissioner for Commerce and industry, Prince Ogbonna Nwuke with the executives of  PHCCIMA, said the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce will no longer condone illegality from churches or any other organization who arbitrarily organizes trade fairs or any other related fairs without observing due process or obtaining permission from entrusted authorities like the Ministry of Commerce and industry and the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce.

“In as much as the chamber of commerce is here to promote business and enhance economic activities in the state, we will want to do that observing the laid down rules. We will no longer condone arbitrary organization of trade fairs in the state, henceforth any defaulter caught in the act will face the appropriate sanction” Engr. Furo was quoted as saying.

In another development the chamber on Monday paid a courtesy call on the Rivers state honourable commissioner for commerce and industry, Prince Ogbonna Nwuke in his office.

Speaking to newsmen after the visit PHCCIMA President averred that the Ministry of commerce and industry happens to be the supervising ministry to the chambers hence; the courtesy call by executives of the board, to compel the Ministry to aid PHCCIMA’s bid to establish an oil and gas international centre in Port Harcourt.

Earlier on while addressing the honourable commissioner for Commerce and industry, Engr. Furo disclosed that the chamber through the efforts of her members has discovered a befitting land good enough to site the centre at Choba in Port Harcourt.  However he told the commissioner that the board is experiencing constraint resulting from lack of fund.

“We are here to drum up government support to facilitate the realisation of our dream to establish an oil and gas international trade centre in Port Harcourt. The gains of establishing the oil and gas international trade centre in Port Harcourt cannot be over emphasized, a situation where cities like Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos has mega and established trade fair centre has made it imperative for Port Harcourt to have a specialized trade centre for themselves – especially in the light of the fact that this is the hub of oil and gas in the country. We deserve to take our proper place in the comity of states” he said.

Engr. Furo went further to disclose that the quest for the establishment of a an oil and gas international trade centre started in I999; in 2005 practical measures were put in place but was stalled due to bureaucratic bottleneck and change of government. Now he emphasized that the chambers is kick starting the quest again believing it will be very strategic to enhancing economic activities in the state.

Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) according to Engr Furo will be following up the courtesy call on the commissioner with another one on the executive governor of the state Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and requested that the commissioner lead them as head of that delegation.

Prince Ogbonna Nwuke, the honourable commissioner for commerce and industry in his remark offered to assist the chamber to realise their goal of establishing an oil and gas international centre, he commended the group for their role in attracting business and increasing economic activities in the state and also granted them the request of leading a delegation to the governor.

The visit was the first ever undertaken since the Engr. Vincent Furo led board were elected, he told newsmen that more of this visits will be undertaken by the chamber in the future.