Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.

The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.

Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.

He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.

The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.

Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.

“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.

“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.

“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.

The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr  Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.

He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.

He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.

In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.

On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.

He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.

The Rivers State Government says its 2026 Budget will focus more on revamping the education sector as well as completing all ongoing projects in the State.

Also to be given priority include healthcare, infrastructure, youth unemployment and security.

Principal Secretary to the Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo, said this during the 2026 Pre Budget Workshop and Public Consultation on the 2026 Budget Estimate, organised by the Rivers Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Port Harcourt.

According to him, the key sectors of the proposed budget include education, youth employment, healthcare, security, and completion of all ongoing projects in the State.

He said 70 percent of the budget will focus more on infrastructural delivery, stressing that all ongoing projects will be completed, while award of new projects will be minimal.

Beredugo said the State will be among the first in the country to establish a State Police if the National Assembly gives its endorsement, adding however, that the State will continue to work with the Federal Police to ensure security of lives and property in the State.

He said youth unemployment will be tackled through massive skills acquisition programme, while overheads to Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAS ) will increase.

He said the revoked contract on the rehabilitation of the Rivers State Secretariat will be re-awarded as government is currently reviewing it.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Imaonyani Ephraim-George, said the workshop was to get the inputs of all stakeholders towards the preparation of the budget.

According to her, aside the Ministries Departments and Agencies which are arms of the government, others whose inputs are also needed in the preparation of the budget  are market women, persons with disabilities, civil society organisations, students groups, among others.

George said the governor was desirous of broadening the scope of citizens participation in the budgeting process by involving all strata of the society.

World Trade Organisation Director-General, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has celebrated her inclusion on Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women list for 2025, marking her eighth appearance on the prestigious ranking.

In a post via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle yesterday, Okonjo-Iweala expressed her gratitude and reflected on the responsibility that comes with influence.

“Nice to make (for the eighth time) the @Forbes List of the 100 most powerful women of the world 2025 and to be on the cover of the magazine. With power comes responsibility! We are doing our best to fight for and reform the rules-based multilateral trading system, which the world needs to avoid a chaotic approach to world trade that would hurt the smallest and the least powerful countries,” she wrote.

She also congratulated her fellow African women on the list, including Namibia’s President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Prime Minister, Suminwa Judith, CEO of Bidvest, Mpumi Madisa, CEO of EbonyLife Group, Mo Abudu, and Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley.

The annual Forbes list recognises women who hold significant influence in business, politics, culture, and global leadership.

Okonjo-Iweala, ranked 92nd, is the first woman and first African to serve as WTO Director-General, a position she assumed in March 2021.

Forbes described her as “an economist and international development professional” with over 30 years of experience across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

She previously served two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006.

The WTO boss also chaired the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has immunised more than 760 million children globally.

Okonjo-Iweala holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is recognised for her belief in the power of trade to lift developing countries out of poverty and promote sustainable development.