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Recreate Rivers Economy As Best Investment Destination, Fubara Charges RSIPA Board

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5 months ago

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has restated that the resolve is stronger now than ever to create the climate conducive for growth of agriculture, manufacturing, small and medium enterprises, and key services because they are the productive sectors that will put Rivers’ economy on a competitive pedestal.
The Governor, therefore, charged members of the maiden Governing Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (GBoRSIPA) to streamline their activities in such a manner that will attract real investors across critical sectors so that the State can become self-sustaining, comparatively.
Governor Fubara gave the charge when he inaugurated members of the six-man Board at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Those inaugurated are: Lawrence Fubara Anga, SAN, as Chairman; Dr. Chamberlain Peterside as Director-General; and Mrs Tamunoibuemi Life-George, who is to serve as Secretary.
The rest include, Mr Goodliffe Nmekini, Barrister Havey Ideozu, and Baritor Lenusikpugi Kpagih as members.
Governor Fubara explained that Rivers State used to rank first in the comity of states in terms of productive economic activities, which attracted various business interests and made the State a well-groomed investment haven.
But, he expressed regret that the attendant expansion and population growth were not maximally managed because the challenges overwhelmed those who superintendent over business activities then, lamenting that the expected blessings were wrongly channelled, which left the State in very pitiable economic situation.
Governor Fubara said: “We might be celebrating, that yes, we have a very fat allocation. We have been able to improve our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but we still have a lot to do; and, that has to do with this agency.
“The purpose of this agency is to give our people – to assure them, that Rivers State can still come back to that enviable position that it once occupied. Those people that were doing business in Rivers State that left, for one reason or the other – that they can still come back.
“We want to see people who intend to come back and invest because Rivers State is blessed – it has oil, the most important item for development today, which is gas, in abundance.
“Look at what is happening in Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout: We can make Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout come back to what it used to be. We can develop the resources that we have in Onne Town. We have Ogba-Egbema gas hub. These are part of the promises we made during our campaigns, and we must fulfill those promises,” he said.
Governor Fubara emphasised that the agency is established to rigorously harness tenable economic and human potentials abundant in the State that can be translated into making Rivers the economic gateway and one-stop- shop for productive economic activities.
The Governor said: “We have waited for this moment for a long time. It is a moment we all have been praying for because we want to leave a State that will be remembered: Rivers State that can compete, and Rivers State that can stand the test of time as a proud State.
“People that are coming here would begin to know that Rivers State is now serious. Rivers State is not about coming here and saying I want to take the side of maybe, I am interested in 10 percent or 20 percent of what you are coming with, that is not the purpose now”.
He explained that Rivers State is about genuine business interactions that will be mutually beneficial to all parties in a sustainable way, insisting that investors desirous of gaining value from their stakes should boldly come to the State for partnerships that will work in the interest of all stakeholders.
He said, “The purpose is to build our State. The purpose is to grow this State economically in such a way and manner that even if we don’t get federal allocation anymore, for example, we can still sustain ourself (as a State) with our IGR.”
Governor Fubara acknowledged that in discharging its responsibilities, the Board will encounter challenges and stiff opposition from those who abhor change but urged the members to brace up and be forthright in their quest to achieve their mandate.
The Governor clarified that the board should not be preoccupied with people who are only interested in real Estate, which seemed to be the current drive now.
Governor Fubara said: “Not just issues of people coming to build houses and other things. I want your concentration to be more on agriculture, (manufacturing).
“Look to find people who are coming in to invest. People that are coming to build factories because it is only when we start production that employment issues will be resolved, (and we will witness economic boom).
“So, please, those things that will solve the problem of unemployment, and promote creation of wealth for the State should be your focus,” he advised.
Governor Fubara further said: “The responsibility of this agency is going to be very challenging because I know they will want to fight back. But, I know that these crop of men and woman have what it takes, and I am very convinced that they are going to lead Rivers State to where we want the State to be.
“The Chairman of this agency is a private legal practitioner and a businessman that has made his name. Let me say it here: let it be on record that I had to beg him to accept the offer. I even had to send emissaries to him to plead with him.
“He said he doesn’t want to get involved with any political thing. I said this is not about politics. You live in Lagos, you have made your name in Lagos. Please, come and help us. We need help, Rivers State needs to be salvaged.”
Governor Fubara charged them to approach their task with an open mind to make a difference, adding that he nurses no doubt that they will make the State proud with the results they will achieve.
The Governor also assured that his doors will remain open, should they require his attention to tackle any challenge in order to get the necessary support to ensure success.
In his acceptance speech, Chairman of the Governing Board of Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (GBoRSIPA), Lawrence Fubara Anga, SAN, said they consider their appointment as an opportunity to serve among other Rivers people who are willing to be so appointed.
Anga noted the enormity of the task before them but expressed appreciation that even the Governor understands it so, which is why he consulted widely to gather very distinguished, proven and tested personalities, who depict his foresight.
He said: “Your Excellency, we have heard, listened very attentively to your charge, and that charge resonates, I believe, with everybody in this room.
“This is the time, whether we like it not, to many people, it is a time to want to despair. It is a time of problems, and it is also a time of challenges. And everybody has an option: your cup can either be half-full, or half-empty.
“But Your Excellency has decided that the cup of Rivers State shall be completely full. For every challenge, there is an opportunity. And what His Excellency has done is to tell us: go and look for those opportunities.”
Anga reaffirmed that Rivers State, known and still is the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation’, noting that the charge before them is to make that appellation march the reality of what prevails, desirably.
The chairman assured that they shall offer their best by delivering on their mandate but solicited support to work in strong synergy with other organs: ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government, to succeed.
This, he noted, will reduce unhealthy competition and bureaucratic bottlenecks that often frustrate genuine development efforts because of what he described as likely policy inconsistencies.
He said, “The charge is to restore it (State) to be the ‘Treasure Base of the Nation. The charge is to make Rivers State economy probably the 10th or 12th largest economy in Africa, standing on its own. The charge is to turn Rivers State into the Dubai of Africa. That is what you have told us to do.
“It is not going to happen overnight. It is not going to happen just through us as individuals. It is a collective effort. But, we are convinced that with your support, and with the kind of leadership that you have already provided, it is very possible in the shortest period of time to start the transformation to change the narrative. And once the ship has left the port, nobody can stop it.”
Anga further said: “Your Excellency, investors’ monies have choices. No matter how potentially attractive a business proposition is, where there is insecurity, where there is confusion, where there is bureaucratic bottleneck, investors will run away because they have choices.
“And, one of the things your administration is trying to do is to restore security, safety of lives and property; security of tenor, when you buy land, you know that your title is secured because without security of tenor, you can’t get a loan.
“These are the things your administration is doing, which will go a long way to achieving the goal you have set. I am happy, this is a brand new agency, and we don’t have any excuse. What comes out; we are the ones that will shape it,” he emphasised.
Anga also reassured that: “This board will try its best to provide oversight. This board will try and provide the policy guidance. This board will try and use the rich connections it has to reach out locally and internationally (to attract investments).
“But, in all of these, our youths should stop being applicants. We want to create an environment where the unemployed become entrepreneurs, they become employers of labour. We want to triple the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State from our home grown businesses.
“We are not just looking for people to bring their money from outside. It’s been proven time and again that if the owners of the place don’t invest, outsiders will not come to invest. And so, your charge to us is to make Rivers State attractive for Rivers people. And when Rivers people invest, the whole world will come and invest. That is our task, and we will strive to achieve it,” he assured.
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Fubara Flags Off Upgrading Of 135 Primary Healthcare Facilities In Rivers 

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1 day ago

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February 5, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to providing quality healthcare that is accessible to the Rivers people.

 Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the flag-off of the renovation and upgrading of 135 Primary Healthcare facilities in 135 Wards across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, last Friday.

 Represented by his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, Governor Fubara said his administration was doing everything possible to ensure that healthcare delivery would be accessed even in the most remote communities, by facilitating this unprecedented State-wide renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres.

“This is to increase geographical access to quality basic healthcare services and reduce maternal Infant and child mortality and prevalence of non-communicable diseases and other preventable illnesses in Rivers State”, the Governor stressed.

The State Chief Executive expressed gratitude to World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance, through the Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress, by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency.

 According to him “We collectively strive towards the reduction of maternal, infant and child mortality and tackling Non-Communicable Diseases, thereby accelerating economic growth and development in the State”.

In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, stated that it was fitting for the Governor to have delegated the Deputy Governor to represent him and flag-off the revitalization and re-equipping of 135 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.

 She extolled the Deputy Governor’s drive, passion, and commitment to steering the State’s Primary Healthcare Task Force, which had led to significant transformation.

 Dr. Oreh expressed gratitude to Governor Fubara for his leadership and dedication, which had contributed to the transformation of the State’s healthcare system.

 Also speaking, the Chairman of the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management   Board, Prof. Blessing Jaja, said that the revitalization of the Healthcare Centres would lead to a significant modernization of the facilities, ultimately improving the overall Healthcare system of the State.

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I Won’t Allow Spoils Of Office To Change Me – Fubara …As Rivers People Mark Gov’s 50th Birthday With Prayers

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1 week ago

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January 30, 2025

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that he will not be drunk with power or allow the associated advantages and benefits that come with holding a lofty position in government to change him.

 

Rather, the governor assured that he will remain committed to his vows made to Rivers people when he got their mandate, to completely put things in place that will transform the State to become what they dreamt it to become.

 

Governor Fubara made the remark when some leaders, elders and critical stakeholders of the State paid him a birthday visit to celebrate him as he attains 50 years at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday morning.

 

The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, explained that he had never subscribed to celebrating  birthdays but seeing leaders of the State gather to celebrate him pulled out tears of joy from his eyes.

 

Governor Fubara said: “I want to say that I will still be the Fubara that you know; power will not change me. I will still make sure that what I hold dear in life remains, which is God and my respect for people. I will continue to maintain it.

 

“Power will come, power will go, but I will still remain the Fubara that you know. With your support, that Rivers State that we all yearn for, we will definitely, even if we don’t get it completely, we will put those things in place that will channel and drive us to that Rivers State with your support.”

 

Governor Fubara emphasised: “That is the only thing that I know I can assure you. I will not do anything, act in any manner that will bring disgrace to myself or to everyone of you that have decided and ready to sacrifice everything for us.

 

“This morning is a birthday morning. It is not a morning to discuss politics. It is a morning to say I am happy, I am 50 years, according to you. But the most important thing is: I am celebrating my Golden Jubilee. It means that I have joined the league of the old men from today.”

 

Fubara, on behalf of his wife, Lady Valerie and family, expressed gratitude to God for divine grace, and thanked all the leaders who made sacrifices to be in attendance so early to wish him well.

 

In his remark, former Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, thanked God for installing Governor Fubara, who has become a deliverer of the State and its people from the hands of those bent on destroying Rivers State.

 

He said, it is, therefore, worthwhile to celebrate such a patient and meticulous leader, loved by all Nigerians on his 50th birthday because he has continued to prioritise the interest of the State and protect it.

 

The former Governor recounted the strength of faith in God that Governor Fubara has demonstrated, enjoyed divine direction in governance, and pledged the continued support of  Rivers people to ensure the success of his administration.

 

In his speech, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, said regardless of who a kingmaker is, as soon as the king is crowned, such person must give way to the king to perform his duties but regretted that

the immediate past Governor, who styled himself as kingmaker had continued to do things to distract the king.

 

But Prince Secondus, noted that amidst the brewing crisis, Rivers people, and indeed, Nigerians have come to admire and love the character of steel, fear and total trust in God that Governor Fubara has demonstrated, including forging unity, and inclusivity, which are evidence of his mandate as divine.

 

Highlights of the event were prayers by the clergy for the Governor, his administration and the State; a toast; the cutting of the 50th Birthday cake by the Governor, who was supported by his wife; presentation of gifts to the Governor; rendition of special birthday songs; and a special birthday party organised by the elders and stakeholders to celebrate the Liberator of Rivers people at 50.

 

Later in the morning, members of the State Executive Council; Local Government Council chairmen; Permanent Secretaries; Government House staff; Service Commanders; and many others visited the Governor to wish him a glorious birthday, and presented gifts to celebrate his Golden Jubilee birthday.

 

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Tinubu Seeks Multifaceted Response To Terrorism, Other Security Threats

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1 week ago

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January 30, 2025

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President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday called for a multifaceted response to terrorism, insurgency and other forms of security threats in the Lake Chad Basin region.

Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the call when he declare open the 5th meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri, the Borno capital.

The Tide source reports that the meeting, which was hosted by the Yobe State Government brings together eight Governors from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and the Republic of the Niger.

The event also brings humanitarian organisations, and local and international communities to address pressing security challenges and explore solutions for stability in the region.

The president said the chain of events that disrupted the stability of the region over the past 15 years demands that power must be wielded responsibly to guarantee the safety and prosperity of the people.

The Nigerian leader noted that while military power was necessary to contain the security threats, it must be accompanied by strategies that address their root causes.

This, according to him, in include poverty, inequality, and lack of job opportunities for the region’s young population.

“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our response to these threats must be multifaceted.

“While military solutions are indispensable, they must be complemented by strategies that address the root causes of insecurity – poverty, inequality, and the lack of opportunities for our youth.

“It is a tragic irony that Africa, a continent with the youngest population in the world, sees its youth become cannon fodder for destructive ideologies and the drivers of conflict.

“This is the challenge before us: to transform this demographic dividend into a force for good. Power’s true essence lies not in its possession but in its application.

“Hard power may secure borders, but it is soft power—through diplomacy, culture, and shared values—that builds bridges and binds us together,” he said.

Tinubu said every part of the world was entangled in its own unique security challenges, resulting in the global military gulping “a historic 2.4 trillion dollars in 2023, with no signs of slowing.”

He, however, observed that: “hard power, detached from the moral imperatives of justice and diplomacy, only widens the very divide it seeks to bridge.”

Tinubu told the Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum that it was only by sticking to the vision for which the forum was created that pursuing and adopting partnerships that benefit the people could be achieved.

Such partnerships, he said, include the collective commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

He noted that the choices made “today will echo through generations, shaping the future of this region.”

He recalled the successes recorded so far in repelling threats to the region’s borders and sovereignty by elements of terror.

The President attributed past victories by member countries to the joint missions they had embarked on.

Tinubu cautioned the governors and other stakeholders against allowing “the geopolitical tensions across the world to sow discord” in the region, and submitting themselves “to become tools in any proxy agenda.

“The salvation of the Lake Chad region is neither in Europe nor in the Americas. It lies in the hands of all those gathered here today.

“You, distinguished representatives of this forum, embody not only our collective will to protect the region but also the transformative potential that stability brings.

“The true enemy remains the non-state actors—those who exploit weak borders, poor governance, and fragile economies to challenge our claim to civilization.

” However, the worst threat we may face is not the insurgents or terrorists at odds with our humanity.

” It is the absence of cooperation, sincerity, and fidelity to our shared pact as brothers’ keepers.

“We undermine this pact when we renege on agreements to secure our borders when misinformation and falsehoods breed mistrust, and when we jeopardize the freedom and choices of our people.”

Earlier, Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, had said that the forum was an opportunity for states around the Lake Chad Basin region across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon Republics to discuss and reflect on the journey so far.

He noted that as partners in progress, the Yobe Government provided the platform for participants to strengthen contact and collaboration towards ensuring stabilisation, recovery, and resilience across the Lake Chad Basin in the months and years ahead.

Also, Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno, commended the strategic partners of the forum, saying their contributions have enabled governments of the forum to tackle some of their challenges to strengthen and rebuild the region.

He said the platform was a rallying point for political cohesion, fostering regional interaction, sustaining the socio-economic development of the region, and regional integration.

On his part, Gov. Umaru Fintri of Adamawa, noted that the Basin had passed through the worst environmental moment, leading to the shrinking of the Lake Chad

“The United Nations Environmental Programme has recently revealed that Lake Chad has shrunk 90 per cent in six years and blamed the situation on climate change, irrigation and construction of dams and population increase.”

The Executive Secretary of Lake Chad Basin Commission, Amb. Mamman Nuhu, said the forum’s meeting “serves as a critical platform for fostering dialogue and enhanced collaboration.”

He also said that the meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment to addressing the multifaceted challenges facing the lake chad basin.

He noted that the theme of the meeting reflects the immense progress achieved so far and the equally immense work that needs to be done.

Ms Cynthia Rowe, Development Director for the British High Commission, Nigeria, and Representative of International Support Group, commended the governors of the region.

Rowe stressed that the region had recorded marked improvement in the face of daunting challenges.

She, however, pledged the support of the funding partners to continue in their efforts towards assisting the forum achieve its objectives.

 

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