Rivers State Government and Rainbow Heritage Group (RHG), a real estate company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a new port city in the Eleme local government area of the state.
The deal, which is a public-private partnership, will deliver Port City on 1,000 hectares of land and serve as the nucleus of a network of urban centres designed to decongest Port Harcourt and break the one-city jinx of the state.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed 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.
The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented at the 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 Port Harcourt City, whose expansion has been poorly coordinated as it stretches into Obio/Akpor, Eleme, and Oyigbo Local Government Areas.
He explained that the partnership between the Rivers State Government, represented by the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, and Rainbow Heritage Group Limited will ensure the achievement of one of the three new cities his administration has proposed to establish.
He said, “Today, we are all going to be witnesses to a great event that will birth a new port city in the 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 with 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 the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Dr Tonte Davies, explained that the expected New Port City world will be executed on 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 it by Governor Fubara to create more cities in the state.
He said, “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 already existing. The International Airport is where Phase 1A of Greater Port Harcourt City is, and now we have moved towards the Onne Ports.
“And that is how 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 would 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 the eventual actualisation of the project.
“Just like His Excellency rightly said, Port Harcourt has been a one-city state, created on the same day as a state like Lagos, but with better potential that can be compared with Lagos State. But we have been foot-dragging 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) of 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 that because of this long-expected dream, the group, over the years, has done research on how to truly enhance the abundant potential of Rivers State to achieve resourceful revitalisation.
He said, “So, New Port City has been identified as 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, and real estate, and we can actually grow it as a major economic powerhouse in the West African sub-region.”
Mr Biedima emphasised: “All the necessary indicators and 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 build enough opportunities for the emergence of new jobs, new businesses, anchor industries, out-grower farmers, and exports.
“It has the potential to interconnect other states to be able to grow and revitalise 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.”
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