Builders Don’t Go To Where People Are Running From, Mayor of Housing Says, Hails RSIPA Inauguration

The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China says Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara was in the right trajectory of repositioning the State for investment and tourism, noting that investors avoid volatile environments that would deny them their returns on investment.

Mr. China, who said this on Monday, September 9, 2024, in reaction to the inauguration of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) by Fubara in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, described the agency as “much desired”.

Joining several other stakeholders to welcome the eventual composition and inauguration of the agency, the Mayor of Housing observed that its members appeared to be tested persons and non-political technocrats, who he believed would actualize the Governor’s focus on Manufacturing and Agriculture so that industries would begin to spring up again.

Recalling that the Governor alluded that estate developers seemed to be the main investors around, the Mayor of Housing noted that it was a good sign which became more real since Governor Fubara came to power, an indication that the Governor was attracting confidence back to Rivers State because builders do not go where people are fleeing from.

The budding agency has Lawrence Anga, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as Chairman, and Executive Chairman of Xcellon Capital Advisors, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside as Director-General.

Dr Peterside came into limelight as a member of the highly respected Rivers State Economic Advisory Council years ago during the Rotimi Amaechi administration and was later appointed as the State Commissioner for Finance, heading the economic arm of the administration.

Other members of the RSIPA Management team are Goodliffe Nmekini, Havey Ideozu, and Baritor Kpagih, while Tamunoibuomi Life-George is to serve as Secretary.

China, an entrepreneur working to develop what he calls the Alesa Smart City Highlands, soon to compete with the Banana Island in Lekki in Lagos, told Kristina Reports that the steady progress in the Ease of Doing Business since the State’s Economic and Investment Summit speaks to the character of the Governor as a man of his words.

He observed that the Governor’s directive to focus more on Manufacturing and Agriculture resonated well with the dream of estate developers because growth in manufacturing and agriculture would boost the housing sector too.

He said it has been his dream that the economy of Rivers State would grow in all sectors including housing because it is when people have money that they consider buying houses.

He also said the leadership of the new Agency seems to understand the discussion trend at the last investment summit on the need to support the LDIs (local direct investors) who would advertise the state to FDIs (foreign direct investors).

China equally commended the governor for warning against chasing businesses away by always making outrageous demands.

The Governor had said: “The purpose of this agency is to give our people – to assure them, that Rivers State can still come back to that enviable position that it once occupied. Those people that were doing business in Rivers State that left, for one reason or the other – that they can still come back.

“People that are coming here would begin to know that Rivers State is now serious. Rivers State is not about coming here and saying I want to take the side of maybe, I am interested in 10 percent or 20 percent of what you are coming with, that is not the purpose now”.

He had explained that Rivers State is about genuine business interactions that would be mutually beneficial to all parties in a sustainable way, insisting that investors desirous of gaining value from their stakes should boldly come to the State for partnerships that will work in the interest of all stakeholders.

The Mayor of Housing thus urged investors around the country and beyond who had been dragging foot to make haste and return to Port Harcourt to explore the new atmosphere of peace and business boon as the agency to solve their bottlenecks has been established at last.