Rivers has resilience, strength, enduring spirit of unity – Fubara, as state clocks 57

Rivers has resilience, strength, enduring spirit of unity – Fubara, as state clocks 57

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has said that the state’s greatest asset is a combination of resilience, strength, and an enduring spirit of unity. This is because the governor has dedicated the rest of his tenure to the execution of aggressive projects.

The governor made the declaration on May 27, 2026, when the state marked 57 years since its creation.

The governor, who said he was fully aware of these attributes, reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of his administration to peace, unity, security, and inclusive development as Rivers State marked its anniversary.

Rivers State was created on May 27, 1967, from the former Eastern Region of Nigeria. The state has been designed as the “Treasure Base of the Nation” because of its abundant resources, which help it to serve as the economic hub of the Nigerian oil industry in the Niger Delta.

The state later gave birth to Bayelsa State and ceded eight local council areas to the new state. The zone played important roles in precolonial and colonial times, from the slave trade to the export of coal and palm produce to Europe.

In the modern era, Rivers State has served as an economic anchor, as the heart of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector, and is responsible for over 48% of the country’s onshore crude oil production.

The state gave birth to the Garden City, its capital, which has emerged as one of Africa’s fastest-expanding metropolitan areas. It plays host to Nigeria’s first oil refinery, built at Alesa-Eleme in 1965.

Rivers State is highly diverse, made up of upland and riverine areas inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the Ikwerre, Kalabari, Ogoni, Okrika, Igbo, and Ijaw.

In a goodwill message issued to mark the day, Gov Fubara stated that despite the challenges faced over the years, the people of Rivers State have continued to demonstrate resilience, strength, and an enduring spirit of unity that has sustained the state since its creation.

The Governor noted that the strong bond of brotherhood among the various ethnic nationalities of the state, including the Ijaw, Ikwerre, Ogoni, Etche, Ekpeye, Andoni, Kalabari, and others, remains one of Rivers State’s greatest strengths and a critical foundation for peace, stability, and progress.

He further observed that Rivers State has remained a major driver of Nigeria’s economy for decades, not only because of its abundant oil and gas resources, but also because of the exceptional contributions of its people across diverse sectors, including academia, jurisprudence, business, entertainment, public service, and sports.

Gov Fubara assured the people that his administration would continue to prioritise policies and programmes that promote peace, protect lives and property, and expand development across all parts of the state. He emphasised that governance must be people-centred and impactful, with equal attention given to every Local Government Area of the state.

The Governor also paid tribute to the elders and founding leaders of the state for preserving the spirit of unity and coexistence over the years, while urging the youths to remain hopeful, responsible, and actively committed to building a greater Rivers State through innovation, hard work, and patriotism.

He equally acknowledged the invaluable role of women in strengthening families, communities, and society, describing them as indispensable partners in the continued growth and stability of the state.

Gov Fubara called on all Rivers people to use the occasion of the anniversary as a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, dialogue, and collective progress, stressing that the unity and future of Rivers State must always rise above personal interests and political differences.

He recalled how the State was created on May 27, 1967, when the Yakubu Gowon administration created twelve states out of the former four regions of Nigeria, and how the people of the state chose to remain united under one state for long. He said this sense of indivisibility helped the state to weather many storms.

The governor has also reassured the people of the state of being in high spirits, prepared to embark on aggressive project development despite ending his re-election bid. He vowed to complete all projects started, raising high hopes for the N195bn Port Harcourt Ring Road (said to require upward cost review), the N225bn Kalabari Super High Way, etc.

The governor disclosed that the Airport Road project had reached 65% completion stage.

He said that in spite of recent developments on the political scene, he remained in “high spirits,” ready to continue with the task of governance, especially the delivery of projects that will impact positively on the lives of the people.

“One thing that I can promise everyone is that every good work that we have started, by the special grace of God, will continue, and we will complete them. We’re in high spirits. Like, we always say, Rivers First,” he said.

Gov Fubara said that his administration conceived the idea of constructing a bypass to the Airport Road to create an alternative route for the communities around the airport and avoid a situation where some of their activities could cause obstruction along the main highway leading to the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“We’ve always had these issues where the community may want to express their anger or dissatisfaction over some activities of the airport authorities, and in the process, they always block the airport road.

“We thought that in this modern society, such actions are not necessary anymore because whenever it happens, it affects the economic activities of the state. So we liaised with the community and created this bypass,” he said.