Rivers State Governor Siminilayi Fubara has canvassed for a more productive and better use of the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, warning that the neglect of the ports is costing both the Federal and Rivers State governments huge economic losses.
Fubara stated this while receiving the board and management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Government House, Port Harcourt, on Monday. He argued that unless the ports capacities are out to full use, the state and country will continue to forfeit jobs, investments, and industrial growth.
Welcoming the delegation led by the NPA board chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, the governor lamented that despite Riversâ strategic advantage of hosting two major ports, their potential remains untapped.
He stressed that globally, prosperous nations rely on world-class ports and airports to power their economies. If the Onne Port alone were operating at full capacity, he said, the ripple effects on surrounding areas such as Eleme and Tai would be transformative, spurring employment, manufacturing, clearing and forwarding services, and economic expansion.
According to him, maximising port operations would reduce logistics costs, build investor confidence, and attract industries reliant on export facilities. The outcome, he added, would be widespread growth in job creation, business development, and tax revenue.
Fubara also pointed out that Rivers State currently enjoys a relatively peaceful environment under his administration, unlike other regions where port activities are disrupted by communal disputes. He maintained that Rivers offers smoother cooperation between host communities, government, and the NPA, and urged stakeholders to seize the moment to revitalise the seaports.
On infrastructure, the governor identified the dilapidated federal access roads as a major challenge, noting that their poor state has worsened flooding and traffic congestion. He called on the Federal Government to prioritise their rehabilitation but assured that his administration would complement such efforts with improved traffic management, stricter truck regulations, and orderliness around port areas.
