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RSG, RHG Sign Deal For New Port City …As Fubara Upscales PH Decongestion Plan

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2024

Rivers State Government has signed a Public-Private-Partnership framework agreement for the establishment of a New Port City to be delivered on a 1,000 hectares of land that will serve as nucleus of network of urban centres designed to decongest Port Harcourt and break the one-city jinx of the State.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday, was between the Rivers State Government, under the supervision of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA) and Rainbow Heritage Group (RHG).
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, SAN, and Acting Director General of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dr Tonte Davies signed for the Rivers State Government, while the Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr Oliver Biedima, signed for the Rainbow Heritage Group.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented at the signing event by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, said that over the years, the State has remained a one-city State, priding in the Port Harcourt City, even if its expansion has been poorly coordinated as it stretches into Obio/Akpor, Eleme and Oyigbo Local Government Areas.
Governor Fubara explained that the partnership deal between the Rivers State Government represented by the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority and Rainbow Heritage Group Limited will ensure achievement of one of the three new cities his administration has proposed to establish.
He said: “Today, we all are going to be witnesses to a great event that will birth a New Port City in Eleme Local Government Area. That city will sit on 1,000 hectares of land, and it will be a well-planned scheme with all the features of a modern city in place.
“And so, today, we are going to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and I assure you that the vision of our Governor with the support of Rainbow Heritage Group Limited, and under the able leadership of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, we will see the birthing of that New Port City,” he said.
He noted that the bold initiative will help decongest the heavily populated city of Port Harcourt, and break the one-city jinx that Rivers State has been noted for all these years.
In his speech, the Acting Director General of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Dr Tonte Davies, explained that the expected New Port City will be executed on a 1,000 hectares of land, and may be expandable.
Dr Davies said the engagement of Rainbow Heritage Group is evidence of the agency’s commitment to achieving the mandate given to them by Governor Fubara to create more cities in the State.
He stated: “His Excellency said it’s 1,000 hectares, but we are working towards having much more than that, because there are going to be other satellite connecting towns to this New Port City.
“It is called New Port City not because we want to just call it a New Port City, but because we look at that area as having the Onne Ports.
“Looking at the Greater Port Harcourt Master Plan, you will see we have three development notes: the Old City, the International Airport and the Onne Ports.
“The Old City is there already existing. The International Airport is where the Phase 1A of the Greater Port Harcourt City is, and now, we have moved towards the Onne Ports.
“And that is how the Greater Port Harcourt City will be pushed forward, just like Rainbow Heritage Group said, towards other connecting towns that will be created.”
Dr Davies assured that the development of the New Port City will bring about massive employment, before, during and even after construction works are concluded, bearing in mind that cities are not necessarily developed in one day.
He restated the commitment of the agency not to let this State down while also appreciating the massive support from Governor Fubara which will contribute immensely to eventual actualisation of the project.
“Just like His Excellency rightly said, Port Harcourt has been a one-city State, created on the same day with a state like Lagos, but with better potentials that can be compared with Lagos State. But we have foot-dragged on our development.
“We were glad when Rainbow Heritage Group came in, having seen their track record. It has been a long journey. We have done so much in the past months; sleepless nights, working together, to ensure that today, history is made.
“This development will bring about massive employment, before, during and even after construction. Cities are not developed in one day, we know, but for this, we assure you that we have a record time.”
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director (GMD), Rainbow Heritage Group (RHG), Mr Oliver Biedima, stated how, as a group, they had always wanted such partnerships with the Rivers State Government to create a new city that will transform the lives of residents in the State.
Mr Biedima said because of such long expected dream, the group, over the years, made researches on how to truly enhance the abundant potentials of Rivers State to achieve resourceful revitalisation.
He said: “So, the New Port City has been identified to be a strategic location. In fact, I can call it one robust strategic location we have in the region that combines the Blue Economy, Agriculture, Industry, Real Estate, and we can actually grow it as a major economic power-house in the West African sub-region.”
Mr Biedima emphasised: “All the necessary indicators, all the necessary features or parameters needed to build the city are all in place.
“The city is founded on strategic partnerships, and we believe that it will have the opportunity to be able to build enough opportunities for emergence of new jobs, new businesses, anchor industries, out-grower farmers and export.
“It has the potential to interconnect other states to be able to grow and revitalize our economy. So, we are pleased, as an organisation, to partner with the Rivers State Government to make this happen. We are committed, and we believe that it will be delivered on time and on target,” he added.

Featured

RSG Floats MNET Culture Content Promo

Published

4 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Ministry of Culture and Tourism has floated a culture content platform in collaboration with digital television group, Multichoice.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Freddy Ndigbara, disclosed this after a meeting with MultiChoice Head of Content Acquisition, Don Dotun Ojon, in Port Harcourt.

He assured that content entrepreneurs and film makers would enjoy the platform by promoting culture and other contents to sell the states tourism potentials.

He said MultiChoice M-net was now open to increase its patronage for content shots on locations in Rivers State, describing the State as one that has numerous potentials for film tourism.

“We were privileged to have Don Ojon with us at the Rivers International Film Festival (RIFF) at the weekend in Bonny and he saw, first hand, the numerous sites and opportunities that are open to creatives in the State. After that, we felt it was important to deepen the conversation and he obliged. This is a cheering news for the sector in the State,” he said.

Ndigbara stated that “Rivers State has many more untold stories to tell, many more contents to reel out and the assurances from the M-net Acquisition Manager is an indication that the industry in the state will soon enjoy a new lease of life”.

The Permanent Secretary thanked Ojon for the visit and assured that creatives in the State would grap this opportunity and show the world that Rivers State is a major hub for film tourism in Nigeria.

On his part, Ojon said the visit was to discuss on ways of promoting tourism in the State using creatives and film.

Ojon said although the company has recently been acquired by canal+ France and is undergoing restructuring, he would promote the chances of Rivers State to host the MultiChoice talent factory in the State.

With Asaba, capital of Delta State, being saturated, Ojon said the next port is Rivers State, which he said is capable of building fresh crop of creatives, new locations, new story lines and concepts.

He, therefore, called for collaboration from stakeholders in the State.

Kevin Nengia

Featured

APC Presidential Campaign Storms PH, ‘Morrow

Published

4 days ago

November 6, 2026

The Tide

Barring last minute changes, the presidential campaign train of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will storm Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, tomorrow.

This is according to a campaign timetable released by the APC Campaign Council last month.

The Tide reports that the APC presidential campaign kicked off in Kaduna on October 24 with President Bola Tinubu in attendance.

The campaign train later moved to Cross River, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ekiti on November 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima representing the President at the rallies.

President Tinubu is personally scheduled to attend 12 states including Rivers, Kaduna, Plateau, Oyo, Borno, Enugu, Bauchi, Sokoto, Delta, Kano, Adamawa and Lagos.

The Rivers State rally, scheduled to hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, is expected to witness a large crowd of party supporters drawn from a coalition of political parties in the State.

The party is expected to round off its presidential campaign in Lagos State on January 9, 2027.

The Tide reports that Tinubu has not visited Rivers State as President since he assumed office in May 2023. His last physical visit to the State was before his inauguration on Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023, when he was hosted by then Governor Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt to commission the Rumuola/Rumuokwuta Flyover and the Magistrates’ Court Complex.

Tomorrow’s visit will be his first to the State since assuming office.

Featured

2027: Be Politically Neutral, Fubara Tasks Traditional Rulers

Published

2 weeks ago

October 30, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged traditional rulers in the State to maintain neutrality, ensure fairness and uphold peace in their domains as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Fubara gave the charge on Wednesday while declaring open the 126th, 127th and 128th Combined Quarterly Meeting of the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council, in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the primary function of traditional rulers is to administer justice and ensure fairness, saying their conduct must not lead to division and unmanageable crises.

“Let me therefore, request, if that is the right word to use, that please, as we are entering into this political season actively, everyone should ensure that your conduct promoted peace in your place. Your actions should not be what would lead to the division and multiple crisis that we cannot manage as a government.

“I think with that, we can all live as one and we can also continue to make this progress that we are trying with all our mind, our body and our soul, to ensure that we deliver to our dear State,” he said.

Fubara urged the royal fathers to abide by the oath and constitution they swore to before ascending their respective stools, in the interest of stability and progress of the State.

He also enjoined them to set aside individual sentiments and place the interest of Rivers State above personal considerations, noting that this principle has guided his own day-to-day governance of the State.

“I want to enjoin everyone to keep aside issues of individual sentiments and ensure that the interest of our state supersedes whatever thing that we have in our mind. This is not just what I’m saying here, it is what I’ve also practiced and displayed in my day-to-day life in the governance of our dear State,” he said.

On the appeal for improved welfare for traditional rulers, the governor clarified that the delay in actualising some of the requests they made in the past was not from the government but from the inability of the Council to put its house in order.

Fubara explained that the issue of stipends paid to the traditional rulers by the local government councils, was a statutory benefit provided for in the constitution and not what a state governor can change by mere verbal pronouncements.

He assured that he remains a man of his word and will fulfill his promises to the traditional rulers before leaving office, next year.

He reaffirmed his respect for the traditional institution as custodians of culture and the closest link to the people, thanking them for their prayers and support.

The governor urged the royal fathers to ensure that the combined quarterly meeting featured fruitful deliberations that will strengthen peace and development in the State.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Eze Chike Amadi Worlu Wodo, expressed profound gratitude to the State Government for its efforts in maintaining a cordial relationship with the traditional institution.

Wodo highlighted the importance of traditional rulers in conflict resolution, noting that their closeness to the people places them in a strategic position to mediate in disputes involving chieftaincy matters, family disputes and land ownership in their respective communities.

The royal father drew the attention of the State Government to some challenges affecting the performance of the traditional institution, particularly the lack of official utility vehicles and logistical support needed to discharge its responsibilities effectively.

He also appealed for improved monthly stipends and better welfare provisions to reflect prevailing economic realities.