Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has recounted how his enemies made frantic efforts to frustrate the concluded Rivers Economic Summit saying they went as far as calling some dignitaries to avoid the event.
Fubara spoke when he received the report on the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024 from the Central Organising Committee at Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The governor said: “I can boldly say here that most of the people that were invited as guests, some elements who didn’t wish us well, called them privately, asking them not to be part of the programme.
“They went as far as even, on the second day of the programme, because they did not expect somebody, a very notable person to be part of it, they tried to dissuade the person.
“These same elements organised a protest so that we will not have our way. But at the end of the day, God also made it possible that we had the programme and the programme was successful.”
Fubara appreciated the efforts of members of the committee especially the people of Rivers who stood by the government and provided the needed support that made the summit a success.
He vowed to spend his days in office working assiduously towards rebuilding the economy of the state beyond crude oil and gas.
Fubara said his government would leverage on the opportunity created by the summit to attract investments into the state to make life better for the people.
He said: “Our state used to be one of the best. We had all the companies here, and all the oil companies were here also. They started here, and life was good (for our people) here.
“I know fully well that no matter how strong a man is, the strong man will die (one day). But when you have a strong policy, and you have strong institutions, those institutions will live forever.
“So, what we did and what happened, we tried bringing intellectuals to brainstorm for the purpose of building a State with the strong economy so that tomorrow, people will not be struggling to become governors because of the good economy of the state.”
He said following the 15-point recommendations in the report submitted to him, his administration would take steps to establish an Investment Promotion Agency to coordinate all business-related engagements.
The governor said: “I read flashes of thoughts written by one Prince of Dubai. How did Dubai start? They started with having an Investment Promotion Agency. That means, if you are coming into the State, you have where to go, you are asked what you have to offer, and you say these are the things I have to offer.
“The agency will have all the solutions to inquiries. If any of such inquiries is beyond them, they know where to seek the attention of the higher authorities.
“With that, you can see business moving smoothly, investors will have the opportunity to interact. Even if they are not seeing the governor directly, they are interacting with the right body. Assurances are there, confidence is there, and quick decision-making is also there.
“I will also assure, not just this committee because I know by next year, you might not even be the people that are going to coordinate it, but we must have it as a policy of the state, that every year, we will bring people together. Look at what we have done, what we need to do, and what we can also achieve, then plan for the future.
“I can say it boldly, when we came on board, we looked at the activities of the internal revenue board. They were doing so little. So, we had to set up a technical committee. This technical committee worked out some modalities that improved our IGR.
“Today, I can make bold to say that our IGR in a year, so far, what they had then cannot be compared to what we have now. So, I strongly believe that if we come together, work as a team, we will have a better State where these issues that we are having today: economic hardship, which is the main thing, will be addressed.”
Presenting the report on the Rivers State Economic and Investment Summit 2024, the chairman of the Central Organising Committee, Chibeoso Aholu, said the government must “initiate appropriate policy and legislative framework that will improve ease of doing business and create a conducive business-friendly environment in the state.
“The government should revive and recapitalise PABOD Finance, Ministry of Finance Incorporated, and Micro Finance Bank, to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
“The immediate establishment of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency as recommended by the summit. A draft Executive Order for the establishment of the Agency is here attached.
“Take measures to resuscitate the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout and establish new industrial business districts, including the agricultural processing zone and a Free Trade Zone in the State.
“Take steps to provide necessary policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks to promote and advance the development of the Rivers State Blue Economy; and take practical steps to address the incessant demands and unending disruptions from communities, community groups, youths, which have caused the departure of many companies in the state.”