Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration is commited to the development of the state’s seaports, promising to partner with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

Governor Fubara gave the assurance in Port Harcourt when he received the Chairman and board members of the NPA, led by Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, who paid him a courtesy visit on Monday.

The visit marked the governor’s first official engagement since the end of emergency rule in the state.

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Fubara welcomed the NPA’s call for synergy, stressing that state governments must be involved in interventions to ensure they address the genuine needs of the people.

He recalled how his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, had insisted on similar collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The governor underscored the importance of seaports to national growth, but lamented the underutilisation of the facilities in the state.

He, therefore, proposed a special meeting with the NPA to discuss strategies for maximising the potential of the Port Harcourt and Onne ports.

The governor further noted that functional ports would create employment opportunities, revitalise surrounding communities, and reduce urban congestion.

He added that job creation through port activities would also address minor security challenges, as youths would be positively engaged.

On sanitation around the host communities, the governor promised to engage local government chairmen in the host areas to ensure a cleaner environment around the ports.

Vital State Assets

Earlier, the NPA Board Chairman, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, expressed gratitude to the governor for the audience, noting that Rivers State was privileged to host two major ports.

He described the ports as vital assets to the state’s wealth.

He outlined some challenges facing the ports, including bad roads, poor sanitation, indiscriminate truck parking, minor security concerns, flash flooding, land encroachment by host communities, and the absence of a suitable office complex for the Ports Police Commissioner.

The NPA chairman promised that the agency would continue with its corporate social responsibility interventions in local communities, while seeking closer collaboration with the state government to ensure such efforts align with the needs of host communities.

He further commended the Rivers government for creating a peaceful business environment devoid of multiple taxation or harassment of port operators by officials of the government.

Aside from the roads, which fall under the responsibility of the Federal Government, Governor Fubara gave a positive consideration to the requests presented by the NPA delegation.