…Assures of supporting efforts towards rehabilitation of Ports in Rivers State
…Enjoins Rivers people to be strong as this phase will be over
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that the Port facilities in Rivers State are moribund because of bitter politics, saying the facilities would have been functional and contributing to the economic development of the State.
Governor Fubara who disclosed this while receiving in a courtesy visit chairman and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbours at the Executive Council Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, noted that the same scenario of bitterness sometime sixteen years ago deprived the development of the Ports in the State.
“Today, after the 8 years which the other person suffered we have entered another one. It is normal if you love this State, you need to support everything that will bring progress and development to it.”
“It is not about us sitting here today, but the State. If the State continues to go down what is the interest? The only reason we are all struggling is to control the treasury. The treasury will also get fat if the sea ports are working, because revenue will increase. Your plan for expansion will also become large, because your internally generated revenue will be large. So, I want everyone to understand that politics of bitterness will not take us anywhere, it will only lead to early grave.”
The governor while commending the members of the Committee for visiting him despite being persuaded not to visit by detractors of his administration, urged them to further assist the state to improve its economy as he is prepared to support their efforts in ensuring all round development in the State.
“Not just in the aspect of commerce, but development in education and healthcare. We want development in the most important places that will be fundamental to life.”
“Rivers State is the main catchment of the blue economy that you are talking about. You just mentioned the Bonny channels, it is one of the sources of this country’s economic strength. You can imagine what we can make out of that place.”
He urged the visitors to dis-countenance what they hear or the picture some group of people are trying to paint about the State as that is the figment of their imagination describing Rivers State as peaceful and moving on.
Gov. Fubara enjoined everyone and his supporters to be strong, as nothing that is happening today will be bigger than what happened on October 30, 2023, stressing that this phase will pass and the State will continue to get stronger.
While explaining the reason for the delay in receiving them, Gov. Fubara said that earlier in the day, women of IPO community, one of the hosts communities of the Port Harcourt International Airport, staged a protest over neglect in employment and non implementation of corporate social responsibilities by the Airport Authorities.
He said agreements were reached on measures to resolve the challenges between the community and the Airport Authorities.
“The most worrisome is that recently about 53 or 54 persons were employed from Abuja and names were forwarded here for documentation and no one from the community was in the list. Naturally, it will call for this kind of action. But I was able to talk to them and assured them that whatever the problem, the Airport Authorities will resolve it, but blocking the entrance does not show a good understanding of a people that wants development. We agreed that going forward such things will not happen again.”
In his remarks, the Chairman House Committee on Ports and Harbours, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji said they were in the state on oversight of the Ports facilities to see how they could be upgraded to enhance the blue economy.
He said the House in conjunction with the Federal Government is determined to revitalize the Ports facilities which includes the Old Port Harcourt Port, Onne Port and the Bonny Channels, adding that their rehabilitation will also benefit the State and improve its economy.
The chairman applauded the governor for his leadership style and also commended the National Assembly members from Rivers State working with him for their commitment, describing them as men and women of immense capacity and honour.
