Among the remarkable sideshows at the recently concluded 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was a foreign investment attraction rally by the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara
Officially part of the federal government delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governor Siminalayi Fubara used the opportunity to showcase a priority need of his administration being the wellbeing of the state, both for now and in the future
His choice of scouting for foreign investments in, of all places, the UNGA, remains remarkable for several reasons
In the first place, the attraction of foreign investments remains a cardinal policy goal of the federal government, with the UNGA dispensation serving as the summit of global deals and dealmakers across the world
Hardly could any other forum outclass it as the critical leaders of nations assemble there once a year
A second reason is that the economy of Rivers State – just as it is with the rest of the Niger Delta zone – is dependent on exploiting other natural resources beyond oil and gas, which are still largely untapped
Meanwhile, even as the claim of scouting for foreign investments has been the cliché adopted by not a few Nigerian officials across administrations to justify their foreign tours and attendances at various fora, Fubara’s search for foreign investment at this point in his tenure remains remarkable
Considering the circumstances that have marked his tenure and made him the ‘poster boy’ of ‘godfather oppression of godson’ scenario in governance, his enterprise in seeking foreign investment flows into the state economy, qualifies to be seen in the proper light as borne out of an indomitable will to succeed in breaking new grounds in governance, as well as a genuine concern for the state A major plank in consideration of his enterprise in scouting for foreign investments is the fact that with his voluntary withdrawal from seeking a second term in office, he has just eight months left in office to deliver on his ambitious development agenda for the entire state. Hence his courting of foreign investors in the course of UNGA 81 qualifies as a global projection of his sustainable economic development agenda to provide a succeeding administration, a solid base to continue the course of good governance currently emplaced in the state under him.
As the hub of Nigeria’s oil and gas economy, Rivers State constitutes the undisputable jugular of the Nigerian economy Beyond the endowment of the status of the hub of the country’s wealth, Rivers State also constitutes a nexus for several aspects of social and economic life for all Nigerians and foreigners alike.
With three airports – one of international class in Omagwa, one in the capital city of Port Harcourt and one other in Bonny, the state guarantees rapid access to visitors from any part of the world
Also, to accentuate the infrastructural endowments of the state are three seaports in Port Harcourt, Onne and Bonny, along with a complement of jetties and wharves With respect to roads, the state can be reached directly from the East by travellers through neighbouring Akwa Ibom State and beyond to East Africa, and on the West through Bayelsa State to Lagos and beyond. Just as well, the northern corridor traverses through Abia State to any other part of Nigeria upland.
Meanwhile, in composition, the state comprises several indigenous and non-indigenous ethnic nationalities – most of who live in an extremely challenged environment and compromised connection with the national politics Beyond Lagos, it is contestable if there is any more cosmopolitan community in Nigeria than Rivers State.
That is why Fubara’s disposition of pursuing peace and sustainable development even at the cost of suppressing personal ambition of seeking a second term in office places him even ahead of the end of his tenure in the pantheon of public spirited political leaders
Observers of the politics of Rivers State cannot easily forget the twists and turns that tended to jolt the processes of governance severally and in a manner that tested and proved the resilience, as well as leadership acumen of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara all through his tenure
Without doubt, less disposed leaders would have allowed personal interests and ego considerations to becloud their judgement, and in that process, flounder with devastating consequences for the strategic Rivers State, and by extension, the rest of the country
It is also not surprising that not a few Nigerians decried the voluntary withdrawal from the bid for a second term for which he was eminently qualified and was even guaranteed significant organic support, just in case he did bid
Nevertheless, given that governance is a continuum, the governor’s efforts have set in motion, the expectation that enquiries in respect of viable investment destinations in the state would be coming And without much equivocation, these investment destinations are numerous; what, with agro-based investment options like fisheries, lumber, charcoal making and even mineral exploitation from the rich alluvial deposits that are common with all delta regions of the world.