‘Greater PH City, Basket of Opportunities’

The Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA) has called on both local and International investors to come to Rivers State and invest towards building a new Port Harcourt City that would be the pride of all and second to none in the country.

Making the call in Enugu while briefing the press at the permanent site of the trade fair complex during the just-concluded 21st Enugu International Trade Fair, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Media, Prince N. Ikeokwu, explained that the call became necessary because the new city offers a basket of opportunities such as a free trade zone (oil and gas free zone at Onne).

It is also close to major industrial and market centres at Aba, Owerri, Bonny, Warri and Onitsha with large cluster of land, as well as serene environment , planned urban environment and access to the oil belt.

According to him, GPHCDA is a regulatory body established by law to facilitate the implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt Master Plan and building a new Greater Port Harcourt city, generally known as the New City.”

His words : “The Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority derives its mandate pursuant to the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority Law No. 2 of 2009. The Law creates in Rivers State a new area to be designated.”

The authority, he continued, is desirous of partnering with the private sector in providing infrastructural services in power generation and transmission , solid waste management , water supply and reticulation , housing project, commercial complexes, and urban transport system.

Continuing, the GPHCDA PRO also explained that the state government is building the new city to improve the living standard of the people in the state by providing better living environment that is properly serviced and give access to social service and infrastructure, hence, the need to control its development.

The city, he went on, is expected to be planned in a manner that would attract private sector interest and investment , describing Port Harcourt as the treasure base of the nation and the fastest growing city in the South – South geo-political zone of the country.

“The aim of the project is to decongest the old city and to regulate urban growth in a sustainable manner and create a modern business node that will accelerate economic growth and development supported by appropriate economic