In an effort to ease the congestion in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Government has signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Framework Agreement to establish a new port city on a 1,000-hectare site. This new city will serve as the central hub for a network of urban centers that will ultimately lessen the burden on Port Harcourt’s infrastructure and create a more balanced distribution of urban centers across the state.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed on Thursday at the Government House, Port Harcourt, was between the Rivers State Government and the Rainbow Heritage Group (RHG) under the supervision of the Greater Port Harcourt Urban Development Authority (GPHCDA).
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, SAN, Dagogo Israel Iboroma, and the Acting Director-General of the Greater Port Harcourt Urban Development Authority, Dr. Tonte Davis, contracted with the Rivers State Government and the Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Oliver Biedima, contracted with the Rainbow Heritage Group.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, who was represented at the signing event by the SAN State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dagogo Iboroma, said the state has been a single city-state for many years and is proud of its Port Harcourt city, but its expansion to Obio/Akpor, Eleme, and Oyigbo local government areas was not well coordinated.
Governor Fubara explained that the partnership agreement between the Rivers State government represented by the Greater Port Harcourt Urban Development Authority and Rainbow Heritage Group Limited would ensure the realization of one of the three new cities proposed to be established by his administration.
“Today, we all are going to be witnesses to a great event that will birth a New Port City in 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 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 this bold initiative will help decongest the densely populated city of Port Harcourt and break the curse of the mono-urban structure that Rivers State has been known for for years.
The Acting Director-General of the Greater Port Harcourt Urban Development Authority (GPHCDA), Dr. Tonte Davis, said this in his speech. The proposed new port city will be built on 1,000 acres of land and is expandable. Dr. Davis said the Rainbow Heritage Group initiative is a testament to the agency’s determination to fulfill Governor Fubara’s mission to create more towns in the state.
He explained, “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 there already existing. The International Airport is where the Phase 1A of the Greater Port Harcourt City is, and now, we have moved towards the Onne Ports.
“And that is how the Greater Port Harcourt City will be pushed forward, just like Rainbow Heritage Group said, towards other connecting towns that will be created.”
Dr. Davis, keeping in mind that cities are not built in a day, affirmed that the development of the new port city will create a ton of jobs before, during, and even after construction is completed.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment not to abandon the state while appreciating the immense support from Governor Fubara that will contribute greatly to the eventual realization of the project.
“Just like His Excellency rightly said, Port Harcourt has been a one-city State, created on the same day with a state like Lagos, but with better potentials that can be compared with Lagos State. But we have foot-dragged 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, Mr. Oliver Biedima, Group Managing Director (GMD) of Rainbow Heritage Group (RHG), explained that as a group, they have always wanted this kind of partnership with the Rivers State Government to create a new city that will support the lives of the people and residents of the state will be transformed. Biedima said that because of this long-held dream, the group has been studying for years how to truly realize the vast potential of Rivers State and achieve resource-efficient revitalization.
He said, “So, the New Port City has been identified to be 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, Real Estate, and we can actually grow it as a major economic powerhouse in the West African sub-region.”
Biedima stressed, “All the necessary indicators, 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 be able to build enough opportunities for emergence of new jobs, new businesses, anchor industries, out-grower farmers and export.
“It has the potential to interconnect other states to be able to grow and revitalize our economy. So, we are pleased, as an organization, 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,” he added.
