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Fubara Pledges Speedy Execution Of Oyorokoto Beach Resort …As FGN, RSG Sign MoU On Creative Economy
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment towards the speedy execution of the Oyorokoto Beach Resort project, pledging to ensure it is fully developed to make Rivers State a tourism hub in Nigeria.
Fubara made the pledge recently at Government House, Port Harcourt during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government to advance the Renewed Hope Cultural Project.
The project is an initiative of the Federal Government designed to expand the creative economic sector in the country.
The governor disclosed that in the last three years, the Rivers State Government has invested a lot of resources in expanding the tourism sector in the state because of its desire to develop leisure spots, create jobs and diversify the local economy.
“We have invested in expanding the tourism sector of Rivers State. Some months ago, the project for the new Tourist Beach which we embarked upon in partnership with Landmark kicked off. They’ve already started their work and from what they promised, by this December the first phase will be unveiled and made ready for public use,” he said.
According to him, some aspects of the Renewed Hope Cultural Project were part of what his administration had in mind when it initiated the Ngô- Atlantic Oyorokoto Road project in Andoni Local Government Area of the state.
“It is a project that will open up that axis of Rivers State. The Oyorokoto Beach is one of the best beaches in this country. Today, I can tell you that all over the internet, I’ve been seeing pictures of elephants, lions and other sorts of wildlife that are being showcased as part of the tourist attractions on that new road,” he said.
Fubara observed that infrastructure development is not just about building roads, bridges and hospitals but also about building an economy for entertainment and relaxation.
He said that in Europe and some of the Middle East countries such as United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, their economies are not just boosted by their good roads but also by the hospitality industry they have created to provide comfort and relaxation to tourists.
“If not for this crisis in Iran, the closest tourism destination that everybody yearns for is Dubai, to go there and enjoy. So what we are trying to do here is, if we can’t go to Dubai, let’s provide our own Dubai in Rivers State. If we can’t go to Qatar, let’s provide our own Qatar or Spain in Oyorokoto,” he said.
The governor assured that the Rivers State would not just sign the agreement, but also make sure that it goes further to put up something visible in the next four months.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for picking Rivers State as one of the key states for the project, assuring that both parties to the MoU will work as partners in progress.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government, while the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Culture, Mr Ishmael Tomonialadeokuma, signed on behalf of the state.
In her brief remarks, Musawa described the project as timely, saying it is in line with the desire of President Bola Tinubu to ensure collaboration between the Federal Government and the various states on expanding the creative industry in the country.
According to the minister, the main goal of the project is economic diversification and expansion as well as job creation.
She hailed the governor for what his administration has done in the area of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, describing it as been very vast.
She said, ” I’m very glad today that we have signed this Mou on the Renewed Hope Cultural Project. It is a project that spans across the Arts Culture, Tourism and Creative industry. It is really to catch up with what you have already done in the state. It is to see what we can do at the federal level to support you so that we can use it as a Tourism, Cultural and Creative hub as well as an Arts space.
“Mr President wants us not to work in silos but to work together with the different sub nationals to see how the Federal Government can support all your efforts in the state.
“We have to collaborate and share our vision with the state. It is not complete if the FG does not collaborate with Rivers State. In fact it is one of the low hanging fruits .
“In coming into Rivers State, I can see that there is a huge diverse culture. Rivers State is one of the low hanging fruits. There is infrastructure, there is access, you have a number of international flights that come into Rivers State.
“Our hope is that Rivers State, with the sort of idea and vision that you (Gov Siminalayi Fubara) have, that we can work together to make sure that Rivers State becomes a huge expression in making Nigeria the cultural and creative hub of Africa.”
A Coalition of civil society organisations has urged the Federal Government to take proactive steps towards addressing the persistent gas eruptions in Bille, Rivers.
The coalition, made up of the People’s Assembly and Bille Working Group, made the call in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, and read to journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Reading the letter, the coalition’s convener, Dr Isaac Osuoka, said that the persistent gas eruption in Bille had led to serious environmental and public health challenges.
Osuoka, also the Executive Director, Social Action, urged Tinubu to establish a presidential task force to investigate and contain the gas leak in Bille.
He also called for the immediate relocation of residents to safe shelters, provision of clean water, food and healthcare services.
Dr Emem Okon, the Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, stated that gas had been bubbling from the ground, creeks, boreholes and hand-dug wells in the community since October 2025.
Okon said that the gas had triggered several fires and explosions, and that residents of the community had reported respiratory problems, vomiting and other illnesses associated with exposure to the emissions.
According to her, preliminary investigations by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have yet to identify the source of the gas.
Mr Kentebe Ebiaridor, the Coordinator, Oilwatch International, called for the publication of results from preliminary soil and water tests conducted in Bille for the residents to know the nature and extent of the contamination.
Ebiaridor urged the Federal Government to deploy medical teams to screen and treat affected residents, and immediately commence an independent study on the health impacts of the leak.
He further called for the suspension of oil and gas operations around OML 18 and 24 until the source of the gas leak was identified and the affected areas declared safe.
Ebiaridor urged the government to hold current and former operators of the oil leases accountable for environmental damage on the community.
Another speaker, Dr Bieye Briggs, urged the National Assembly to fast-track the NOSDRA Amendment Bill, 2025 to provide the agency with statutory funding and stronger enforcement powers.
Briggs urged the Federal Government to activate the regional Spill Command Centre, and make the Upstream Remediation Fund accessible for the Bille crisis and other affected communities in the Niger Delta.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has banned drone operations and fireworks in Uyo and announced temporary traffic restrictions ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the State today.
The state Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, announced the measures yesterday while briefing journalists at the Police Headquarters in Ikot Akpan Abia, Uyo.
He said the restrictions were part of security arrangements to maintain public order, protect strategic locations and ensure the smooth movement of the President’s convoy during his engagements.
“There will be total restriction on the operation and flying of drones within Uyo metropolis throughout the period of the visit. Members of the public, drone operators and service providers are advised to strictly comply with the directive,” he said.
The police commissioner also announced a ban on fireworks, knockouts and other explosive sound-producing devices within the state capital during the visit.
He said the measure would prevent panic and allow security personnel to respond effectively to genuine security threats.
The command also announced temporary restrictions on public access to designated routes and locations in Uyo to facilitate the movement of the presidential convoy.
The affected areas are Airport Road, Shelter Afrique Junction, Oron Road, Nung Oku Junction, Mbierebe Junction and Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“Motorists are urged to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the corridors.
“Members of the public are advised to avoid the routes during the restriction and use alternative routes,” Azare said.
He also urged residents to plan their journeys, exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and security personnel deployed along the affected corridors.
The commissioner said the command, working with other security agencies, had put in place security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free visit.
He appealed to residents to understand that the temporary restrictions were necessary security measures and not intended to cause hardship.
Azare urged members of the public to remain law-abiding, avoid restricted areas and report suspicious movements to the nearest police station or through police emergency channels.
Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom is a working visit during which he is expected to inaugurate major infrastructure projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration under its ARISE Agenda. The projects cut across aviation, road infrastructure, tourism, healthcare, land administration and security.
Among the projects scheduled for inauguration are the international terminal building and airport hospital at Victor Attah International Airport, Aviation Village, ARISE Palm Resort, the 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road, Ring Road 3, the Command and Control Centre and the AkwaGIS building.
The state government had earlier announced plans for the President to inaugurate projects as part of activities marking Akwa Ibom’s 39th anniversary in September.
The airport projects are particularly significant to the state’s ambition to expand aviation, tourism and investment.
The international terminal is expected to strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle international operations, while the Aviation Village is intended to provide accommodation for aviation workers. The airport hospital is also among the facilities lined up for inauguration.
The road projects are also expected to improve connectivity. The 14.5-kilometre Nsit Atai–Okobo Road links communities in the two local government areas, while Ring Road 3 is designed to improve movement within Uyo and ease pressure on existing roads. The Command and Control Centre, meanwhile, is intended to strengthen security surveillance and coordination in the State.
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
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