‘Rivers Tops Destination For Investments, Tourism’ As RSG Unveils …‘#OurStateOurResponsibility’ Campaign

As the Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications kicks off its campaign in promoting the potentials and opportunities that are in the state, Parmenent Secretary, Paulinus Nsirim has affirmed that the state remains a top destination in investments and business in the country.
Nsirim made the assertion when he led directors and top staff of the Ministry in an advocacy visit on the campaign, “#OurStateOurResponsibility” at the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation yesterday in Port Harcourt.
The permanent secretary stated that the campaign is to further drive the milestones recorded by the Chief Nyesom Wike-led administration, which in the past four years, have transformed state infrastructure and security for better business climate.
Already, he submitted that efforts being made by government have yielded dividends with the state hosting over 20 local and international events cutting across sports events, conferences, conventions and fairs.
He listed some of the events hosted in Port Harcourt, the state capital, to include the 2016 Annual Conference and Gala Nite of 12th Africa Movie Academy Award (AMA), 2016 Annual General Conference of Magistrates Association of Nigeria, 2016 and 2017 editions of the Annual Nigerian Editors’ Conference (ANEC) of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), 56th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Conventions in 2016 and 2017, West African Architecture Fair, Rotary International Regional Meeting, Yobo Testimonial International Match in 2016, and African Bar Association (AfBA) Conference in 2017, all in Port Harcourt.
Others include the 12th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in 2017, 2018 PDP Presidential Primary, Retreat of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency, 6th Anniversary of the Science Teachers’ Association of Nigeria (STAN), Miss University Africa 2017, Port Harcourt Great Gospel Crusade by CFAN in 2018, Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Holy Ghost Rally, Super Eagles versus Congo DRC in 2018, NAFEST 2018, African Wrestling Championships 2018, 2019 African Badminton Championship and the Turkish Airline flights from Istanbul, Turkey in 2019, among others.
Nsirim noted that all the events attracted both local and international participants from across all continents, who took time out to visit various tourists’ attractions, clubs, ancient monuments, historical museums and cultural centres, and enjoyed Rivers’ hospitality and cuisines without any security breaches and untoward incidents.
All these events, Nsirim opined, were pointers to the fact that the state was making progress as best investment and business destination in the country despite attempts by unpatriotic persons to de-market it.
He expressed regrets over efforts to gloss over those achievements, as the state was last year ranked as the second strongest economy after Lagos, insisting that “Business thrives here, and we are naturally a welcoming people. It has been our tradition”.
Besides the rating, the permanent secretary said that in the past four years, the state has continued to build on its economic potential, as the state now houses the biggest supermarket in West Africa – NEXT -, and the largest privately-owned gas processing plant at Rumuji in Emohua Local Government Area.
To further build on these gains, he emphasized that the state now has some of the best road and healthcare infrastructure, solid rating on ease of doing business, and improved security architecture with recent integrated “Operation Sting” to secure lives and properties.
Nsirim revealed that in the next few weeks, the ministry would take the campaign to private sector stakeholders, particularly in the media, as he called on the citizenry to promote the state, just as he explained that, “if the economy of the state gets better, all of us will benefit”.
Responding, General Manager of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, Mr Vincent Ake pledged the support of The Tide newspapers to the new campaign.
He gave knocks on those who have painted the state in bad light in the past, and assured that the corporation would do all in its powers to re-orientate the people for a better state.
In this light, he explained that the new campaign would give a new positive narrative of the state, emphasising, “We are saying that the people need to know all these, and if we don’t blow our trumpet, nobody will. We must put it out there for the people to know. We assure the ministry of our commitment to do the needful”.

By: Kevin Nengia & Beemene Taneh