Fubara Reconciles with Wike, Calls for Revival of Rivers Seaports

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Monday in Abuja confirmed that he is at peace with his political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, and that calm has returned to the state after months of crisis.

Speaking to journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Fubara said his relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had been restored.

“As far as I’m concerned, we have made peace. Fubara and his principal are working together” he said, describing his visit to Tinubu as a courtesy call to express gratitude and seek guidance after the lifting of emergency rule.

Tinubu ended the six-month emergency on September 17, reinstating the governor, deputy governor, and state assembly after a political feud paralysed governance in Rivers. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that “there was no government in Rivers State” as loyalists of both leaders clashed, threatening governance and oil infrastructure.

Later in Port Harcourt, Fubara hosted the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board led by Chairman Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement. He lamented the underutilisation of the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, warning that Rivers and Nigeria risk losing investments, jobs, and industrial growth unless their full potential is harnessed.

“We are blessed with the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, but the truth is they are underutilised. Imagine if Onne Port worked at full capacity—the economic transformation around Eleme, Tai, and other areas would be massive. It will create jobs, drive manufacturing, and expand clearing and forwarding operations,” the governor said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi.

Fubara stressed that optimising seaport capacity would reduce logistics costs, boost investor confidence, and increase state revenue. He pledged state collaboration with the NPA to tackle poor access roads, encroachment on port lands, insecurity, and flooding around port facilities.

He announced plans for a new police station to enhance security and link crime reduction to job creation through port activities. “Most societal issues stem from unemployment. Once the ports are active, youth restiveness will decline,” he said.

Commending the NPA Board’s consultative approach, Fubara assured full state support to transform the ports into engines of economic growth.

In response, NPA Chairman Adeyeye said littoral states like Rivers are endowed with resources critical to national development. He pledged the Board’s commitment to reviving operations at both seaports and sought state support on road rehabilitation, security, and environmental management.