The Federal Government has officially designated Bonny Island as a premier tourism destination in the country.

Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musawa, announced this at the just concluded Bonny Island Tourism and Investment summit in Bonny, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The event was organised by the Bonny Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture.

Musawa said the Federal Government would partner with relevant stakeholders and development partners to transform Bonny Island into a leading tourism destination in the country.

Represented by the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, the Minister said Bonny Kingdom possesses enormous economic, cultural and natural potentials capable of positioning it as a major tourism hub.

According to the minister, the extraordinary combination of the kingdom’s natural heritage, historical resources, rich community traditions and emerging investment opportunities makes Bonny uniquely positioned to become one of Nigeria’s leading tourism destinations.

She, however, said the development of Bonny Island must go beyond the construction of individual tourism facilities to the creation of a comprehensive destination ecosystem that addresses accessibility and connectivity, accommodation, attractions, entertainment, environmental sustainability and other critical components required to enhance the experience of visitors and improve the quality of life of residents.

The minister stressed the need for partnership, adding that the development of tourism requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders .

Meanwhile, the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple, has declared the readiness of his kingdom towards making Bonny Island a tourism hub.

Pepple reaffirmed the determination of the traditional institution to support genuine, credible and sustainable investments capable of advancing the prosperity and well-being of the people.

He said, though Bonny is presently occupying a unique position in the nation’s oil and gas industry, its story goes beyond oil and gas as the kingdom has been noted for its exploits in commerce, maritime activities and diplomacy.

According to him, “Discover Bonny” which is the theme of the summit is not the creation of a new identity but a clarion call to the rest of the world to come and discover the rich natural heritage of the people.

He  said that the traditional institution would continue to promote a tourism development model that is economically viable, environmentally sustainable and culturally inclusive.

The monarch commended Nigeria LNG Limited, Renaissance and other development partners for their sustained collaboration and contributions towards the socio-economic development of Bonny Kingdom.

President of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, in her address, emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships and investment in unlocking the tourism and economic potentials of Bonny Island.

She noted that the summit provided an important platform for government, traditional institutions, investors, development partners and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for sustainable tourism development and investment in the kingdom.

According to her, the summit is expected to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and promote investments that will harness Bonny Island’s rich cultural heritage, natural attractions and economic potential, ultimately positioning the kingdom as a preferred destination for local and international tourists and investors.

Speaking earlier at a panel discussions, President, South South Chambers of Commerce industry Mines and Agriculture, Prince Billy Harry, called on the leadership of Bonny Kingdom to build upon the existing peace in the kingdom.

Harry said tourism thrives in a society that is peaceful, and commended the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture for coming up with the ‘Discover Bonny’ initiative.

Similarly, a Nollywood Actress, Hilda Dokubo, said women and every segment of the Bonny society must be involved in the Island Tourism sector.

John Bibor

President Bola Tinubu is set to lead a fresh continental push to stop Africa’s mineral wealth from leaving the continent largely as raw materials, as he chairs a high-level summit on critical minerals in New York next month.

The meeting, convened by the Africa Minerals Strategy Group on September 21, 2026, will be held in Manhattan on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the AMSG General Assembly, will chair the Third High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa, with the gathering expected to bring together African leaders and government representatives, ministers, global investors, development finance institutions, multilateral organisations, and executives from mining, technology and logistics companies.

A statement issued by AMSG yesterday said the summit, themed “From Resources to Wealth: Continental Cooperation for Mineral Value Addition,” comes as major economies intensify the search for secure supplies of minerals required for electric vehicles, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and defence technologies.

The statement read in parts, “Africa is set to make a major push for greater control over its critical minerals future as the Africa Minerals Strategy Group convenes its Third High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa in Manhattan, New York, on September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

“The Roundtable will be chaired by His Excellency Bola Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the AMSG General Assembly, underscoring Africa’s determination to place critical minerals at the centre of the continent’s industrial, economic and geopolitical agenda.”

Africa holds substantial deposits of several minerals at the centre of the global scramble, including lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite, manganese and rare earth elements.

However, the continent has historically exported much of its mineral resources in raw or minimally processed form, leaving other regions to capture a larger share of the value from refining, manufacturing and finished products built from the minerals.

The AMSG said the New York meeting would seek to change that pattern by moving African countries towards greater processing, manufacturing and integration of mineral value chains.

“The Roundtable will focus on how African countries can move beyond the traditional extract-and-export model to build integrated mineral value chains, attract transformative capital, strengthen continental cooperation and secure a greater share of the economic value generated from Africa’s mineral resources,” the group said.

The meeting will also mark the next phase of the Mutual Assured Development framework launched at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit held in Abuja earlier in 2026.

At the New York gathering, African leaders and policymakers are expected to unveil the proposed Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration, which will provide a framework for cooperation on critical minerals.

The proposed declaration will cover policy coordination, investment mobilisation, local value addition, supply-chain security and efforts to strengthen Africa’s negotiating position in the global minerals economy.

A major component of the initiative is the proposed CIEAD Finance Window, designed to mobilise capital for mineral processing, infrastructure, technology and other segments required to build competitive value chains within Africa.

The AMSG said the initiative was intended to move beyond policy discussions towards concrete investment and implementation structures.

“Building on the Mutual Assured Development Framework, the New York gathering will mark a transition from strategic dialogue to structural execution,” the group said.

The meeting will be convened by the leadership of the AMSG, including the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who chairs the AMSG Ministerial Steering Committee, and the Secretary-General of the group, Moses Michael Engadu.

The Africa Finance Corporation, other development finance institutions, multilateral organisations and private-sector players in mining, technology, mineral traceability and logistics are also expected to participate.

Established in January 2024 by African governments, the AMSG is a continental intergovernmental organisation focused on coordinating critical minerals policy, investment alignment, minerals security and Africa’s engagement with global partners.

Its mission is to strengthen Africa’s control over its mineral resources and ensure that the continent captures more of the value created from the minerals increasingly shaping the future global economy.

Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.