Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s stagnant development, noting that the country was not moving forward, hence the need for urgent action.
The governor lamented that Nigerians struggle to access basic amenities like functional airports and roads, with many seeking solutions in churches, whereas China’s citizens rely on their country’s systems for solutions.
Governor Fubara speaking at the National Airfreight Summit organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the Airfreight Stakeholders’ Forum in Port Harcourt, with the theme “Diversification of Nigeria Economy: Harnessing the Potentials of Airfreighting, emphasised the need for forward thinking, saying that Nigeria must prioritise economic growth and development.
The governor represented by the Rivers State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, John Otamiri, highlighted the dire situation of the country, noting that 75 percent of Nigerians struggle to feed themselves and their families, with many dying from hunger.
To address this, Governor Fubara proposed collaboration and investment in job creation and infrastructure, saying that Rivers State is investing heavily in job creation and creating a safe environment for investors.
The governor urged stakeholders to rethink priorities and collaborate on improving the economy.
“It is surprising that we are leaving the areas where our concerns should centre on, and we are talking about politics. I want to pray that when you leave here, you reconsider where Nigeria is going to.
“There is nothing functional in Nigeria. Nigerians are looking for a good airport or good roads, they go to the churches to seek the face of God. Where do the Chinese people seek when they are looking for basic amenities in their country?
“Everything here, we don’t sit down to think for the way forward. I want you people to think about how to grow the economy and grow it properly. As a representative of the executive governor of Rivers State, we owe people in Rivers State the truth; we’re not moving forward as a country. We are not thinking towards how to prepare ourselves for the generations coming in today and the ones yet to come.
“We have our target point and our concern is how to create jobs for Nigerians. When you look at the streets 75percent of Nigerians are scavengers, they are looking for what to eat and feed their families, so many people are dying in hunger and we smile when we come out to an event like this.
“So the Rivers mantra is against some of this principles, that is why the governor of Rivers State is investing hugely on how to create jobs and making the state a safe environment for investors come to rivers state.”
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Pius Ukeyima Akutah, lauded Governor Fubara for his commitment to economic prosperity and his support for the national airfreight summit, which is aimed to diversify Nigeria’s economy through non-oil exports.
Akutah represented by the Mrs Margaret Ogbonna, Director Regulatory Services, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, said the summit, third in a series, follows successful events in Kano and Kwara states, said that Rivers State’s strategic economic hub status and exportable resources make it ideal for airfreighting.
“The selection of Rivers State in hosting the third Airfreight Submit was carefully considered in view of the strategic importance of the state as the economic and commercial hub of the South South Region and being the only state within the region with an international airport and proximity to other South South states, made it very suitable and sustainable for airfreight business.
“Rivers State is inarguably endowed with many exportable agricultural and aquatic products with potentials for good business opportunities and revenue generation. Airfreighting holds tremendous opportunities in the diversification of the nation’s economy bring one of the simplest and easiest gateways to accessing international markets with less cumbersome process and procedures.
“It’s significant and benefits needs not be overemphasized. Today’s submit provides us as a nation and stakeholders, the opportunity to look inward and challenge our thoughts through this articulated discussion for a new frontier of business through airfreighting bearing in mind the abundant economic potentials in Rivers State.
“The non-oil exportable products in Rivers State ranging from agriculture to aqua-culture have been inadequately tapped due to over reliance on oil and gas. This abundant non-oil resources in the state if airfreighted has the potential and capacity to generate billions of Naira and create multiple jobs for the teeming population in Rivers State with an international airport as comparative advantage.
“It has the prospect of triggering exports in the entire South South region. The multiplier effects in terms of benefits to the economy of Rivers State includes; appreciation of the value of the Naira, job creation, crime reduction, enhance business opportunities, propensity fir increased internally generated revenue.”
Meanwhile stakeholders at the summit outlined actionable steps to harness the potential of airfreighting as a key driver of economic development in Nigeria, pointed to the need for a public private partnership to establish a packaging hub for export in Rivers State.
Amongst the resolutions reached by stakeholders include the need for the government to prioritise investments in the modernisation and expansion of Port Harcourt International Airport and associated cargo facilities to accommodate high-volume airfreight operations, others.