Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State, has stated that his administration is committed to expanding the state’s ports and that it will work with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to boost employment and economic growth.
When Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, the NPA’s chairman, and other board members, paid him a courtesy visit on Monday, Governor Fubara received the assurance in Port Harcourt.
The governor’s first official visit since the state’s end to emergency rule was made at the time of the governor’s visit.
Read more recently: Kenneth Okonkwo’s article, Fubara Should Seek Legal Redress for Lost Six Months.
Fubara praised the NPA’s call for synergy, arguing that state governments should be involved in interventions to ensure they address the people’s real needs.
He recalled Nyesom Wike’s prior commitment to a similar partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The governor lamented the state’s underutilization of the facilities, despite highlighting how crucial seaports are to national growth.
Therefore, he suggested holding a special meeting with the NPA to discuss ways to maximize the potential of the Port Harcourt and Onne ports.
Additionally, the governor argued that having functional ports would lead to employment, revitalize nearby neighborhoods, and lessen urban congestion.
He added that youth engagement and job creation through port activities would help solve minor security issues.
The governor promised to work with local government chairmen in the host communities to make the host communities’ ports’ environments cleaner.
Vital State Assets
Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, the NPA Board’s chairman, earlier than usual, thanked the governor for the audience by mentioning that Rivers State had the honor of hosting two significant ports.
He referred to the ports as important sources of wealth for the state.
He cited problems with the ports, including bad roads, poor sanitation, indiscriminate truck parking, minor security concerns, flash flooding, land encroachment by host communities, and the lack of a suitable office complex for the Ports Police Commissioner.
The NPA chairman vowed to keep up the work that the organization does with corporate social responsibility initiatives in local communities while working with the state government to make sure they are in line with the needs of the host communities.
He praised the Rivers government for creating a calm business environment where port operators were spared harassment or repeated taxes by government officials.
Source: Channels TV
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