‘Rivers To Develop Coastal Economies’

As part of measures to diversify the economy from oil and gas, the Rivers State Government has said that it will fully harness and develop the tourist potentials in the coastline communities for the economic benefit of the state.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen at the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach, during the boat regatta, organized to celebrate the Golden Jubilee anniversary of the state.
The commissioner pointed out that Rivers State has one of the longest coastlines in West Africa, with a plethora of untapped natural potentials, but acknowledged that these treasures have been ignored for decades.
He said the period of the Golden Jubilee celebration provides a new spirit of cultural renaissance to tap into the natural beauty of the water bodies and upgrade existing facilities for full economic benefits.
Commenting on the boat regatta, he said, the event was a unique opportunity to display the aesthetics and cultural values of the state, through the waterways which serve as an aquatic stadium.
He said the boat regatta was also a symbolic reflection of the long existing history of bravery, hardwork and communal entertainment among the various communities in the state.
Commenting on the issue of upland/riverine dichotomy, which dominated the past, Tam-George said the concept of political dichotomy, was “false, divisive and a retrogressive analysis,”, advanced by short-sighted politicians to grab political power.
The said no dichotomy existed in Rivers State as there was a bond of brotherhood among the various ethnic nationalities in the state.

Taneh Beemene