Following a recent statistics released by the National Bureau of statistics, indicating that over 40% of the population in Rivers state are out of Jobs, the Rivers State Government has blamed the situation on the influx of people from the north.
The government made known the position through the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Barr Emma Okah during a Rhythm 93.7 news and current affairs program, View Point.
Emma Okah also said that the inability of Oil multinationals operating in the state, to offer employment opportunities to youths from the state has also increased the unemployment level in the state.
“You must notice that there is population explosion in some of the Niger Delta states, particularly Rivers State.
“You see following the disturbances in the North East and some part of the north. You see a lot of population drift from that part of the country towards Rivers State, and so naturally that also creates some form of unemployment concern.
“Next to that is the fact that, yes a lot of the hydrocarbon operators are here, but how many of Rivers people clearly do they employ, and so this raises quite a lot of concern. And at the end of the day, what you see is that Government must be the highest employer of labour in the state.
