Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured the Bonny Kingdom of accelerated infrastructure development, pledging that critical projects will be delivered in Grand Bonny before the end of the first quarter of 2026 to address years of neglect.

The governor gave the assurance on Saturday during a grand reception organised in his honour by the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, and the Bonny Council of Chiefs.

Fubara was in the ancient kingdom to attend the Iria ceremony of Her Majesty, Queen Paula Tamunoipirinye Pepple, wife of the monarch, which took place at Ikuba Square.

Addressing traditional rulers and members of the Chiefs Council, the governor stressed that Bonny’s strategic status as a global economic hub demanded a stronger and more visible government presence to complement the activities of multinational firms, particularly the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG).

“Bonny has expanded. It needs internal roads and more economic activities. NLNG is here, and the government needs to be here too,” he said.

The governor announced plans to construct new internal road networks, execute shoreline protection projects to tackle erosion, and roll out initiatives aimed at stimulating local economic activities to ensure sustainable growth in the Kingdom.

“Before the end of the first quarter of 2026, you will see and feel the presence of the Rivers State Government here,” the governor assured.

Reviewing his time in office, Fubara described the first 23 months of his administration as turbulent, noting that political instability had slowed the pace of governance and service delivery.

“Twenty-three months of my administration has been faced with challenges. The instruments meant for effective governance are the same ones making things difficult. It has never been our desire to deny our people the feel of government,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the governor noted that his administration had recorded positive outcomes from inherited projects in Bonny, particularly in the education sector, and pledged to scale up development efforts across the kingdom.

“I believe you are already seeing good results from some of the projects. But that is just the beginning,” he added.

Fubara also paid glowing tribute to King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, for his support during what he described as the most difficult moments of his administration, and accepted a traditional title of Amaopusenibo of Bonny Kingdom conferred on him during the visit, describing the honour as a call to greater service.

“Our relationship is not based on benefits; it is pure and natural. Chieftaincy is a call to duty to Bonny and Rivers State. I will not let you down,” he said, urging leaders to view leadership as a sacred trust.

Earlier in his remarks, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, said the kingdom seized the opportunity of the governor’s visit for the Iria ceremony to formally receive him, noting that the concerns presented by the Chiefs Council reflected the development needs of the people.

The chairman of the Bonny Chiefs Council, Se-Alabo Lt. Col. (rtd.) Dagogo Soala Wilcox, who spoke on behalf of the kingdom, expressed delight at hosting the governor and commended him for appointing several Ibani sons and daughters into key positions in his administration, while outlining priority development areas requiring urgent state government intervention.

Meanwhile, the governor was earlier in Buguma City in Asari-Toru Local Government Area to pay his last respect to the late mother of Hon. Ojukaye Flag Amachree, late Hon. Mrs. Agbani Roseline Amachree.

The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) has unveiled measures to enthrone ease of doing business and win back the confidence of the business community.

The Director-General of the Agency, Dr Chamberlain Peterside, unveiled the plans at the Breakout Session of RSIPA at the ongoing 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair, at the Obi Wali International Cultural Centre, in Port Harcourt.

Dr. Peterside said the agency was poised to free the state from accumulation of wrong narratives that branded it over the years as unsafe for business.

He, however, admitted that many things had gone wrong in the past where regulators joined to make the business environment difficult for investors.

He announced that the agency was rather focused on actions, solutions, and results as adopted in the mission statement of the Board.

“Our task is no mean feat. We are dealing with the perception risk that over several years branded the state as unsafe. We are also faced with the challenges of dealing with the lack of cohesion amongst MDAs, policy inconsistencies, multiple taxation, incessant harassment by miscreants, red tape and delays in obtaining operating permits, high cost of operations and opaque public sector,” he said.

“It is about listening to the investors in the field and ensuring that MDAs are carried along, hence the imperative for the setting up of our One-Stop-Center”, he added.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Warisenibo Joe Johnson, who represented the state governor, said the Fubara administration was ready to listen to the business community to see ways of reducing impediments to investments.

He listed the stages of actions being undertaken by the governor as outlined in his 37-page blue print to revive the economy of Rivers State.

The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, who was presented at the event as a star investor and promoter of Rivers State reputation, said for the plans of the investment promotion agency to materialize, an enabling law should replace the Executive Order that established the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.

He said this would insulate the agency from political instability and remove fear in the minds of investors about its sustainability.

According to him, protection precedes promotion and Local Direct Investment (LDIs) is what attracts and promotes Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).

“It is the rat at home that reveals to the one in the bush that there is fish in the kitchen”, he added.
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?The Mayor of Housing who is also the CEO of the Alesa Highlands Sustainable Green Smart City said that Port Harcourt is like a business empire under lock and key because it is not protecting its own and also not promoting its own enough for investors to come in.
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?In the area of land documentation and inventory, China urged Rivers State Government to borrow a leaf from Abuja and adopt the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in dealing with land and property registration and documentation for ease of doing business.
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?He said Lagos understood the power of business information, adding “this creates the impression that if you are not doing it in Lagos, you are not doing it in Africa.

“We need to shout louder than Lagos, because we need more investments than Lagos and the structural integrity of Abuja. When you marry both, Rivers State would be wonderful and become green with investments,” he said.

In her speech, the President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, called on the state government to look into the menace of parked trucks now turning Trans-Amadi into a risk zone.

She outlined the activities of the PHCCIMA and invited investors and businesses to the Port Harcourt economic hub, saying peace has returned.

The Director, Investors Relations of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), Mrs Lovina Kayode, urged Rivers State to make haste and catch up on Ease of Doing Business, saying the Council has come to help businesses in the state.

Mrs Kayode, who represented the Executive Secretary/CEO of NIPC, Aisha Rimi, commended the Mayor of Housing and his counterpart, Mr. Oliver Biedima of Rainbow Heritage Group, for their decision to invest in Rivers State, saying it is a proof that Rivers State is safe for investors and their investments.
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In his remarks, Oliver Biedemi of Rainbow Heritage Group urged government to give the private investors chance to develop the economy, saying ordinarily government does not have the funds to develop the economy.