Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for the growth of key sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, small and medium enterprises, and services. These sectors, he emphasised, are crucial for placing the state’s economy on a competitive footing. Governor Fubara gave this charge during the inauguration of the maiden Governing Board of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (GBoRSIPA) at Government House in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He urged the board members to streamline their activities to attract genuine investors across critical sectors, enabling the state to become self-sustaining. 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 others are Mr. Goodliffe Nmekini, Barrister Havey Ideozu, and Baritor Lenusikpugi Kpagih as members.
Fubara expressed regret over the state’s economic decline, noting that it once ranked first among states in productive economic activities, attracting various business interests and investments.
However, he lamented that the subsequent expansion and population growth were not effectively managed, leading to overwhelming challenges that misdirected the state’s economic blessings.
Governor Fubara acknowledged that despite the state’s current financial improvements, including increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and substantial allocations, there is still much work to be done to revitalize the economy.
He emphasized the crucial role of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (GBoRSIPA) in driving this revitalization stating that “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 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 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 women 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. He also 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.
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. 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. “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 the governor.