Work begins on Rivers new mega city off Port Harcourt

The new city expected to spring up outside Port Harcourt has rolled into action as Governor Sim Fubara has flagged off the construction of the new mega smart Port City in Eleme local government area of Rivers State.

This is as a world class sustainable smart city is expected to also kick-start in same Eleme also by a private developer, creating both high-end and low-end options in the Eleme axis.

On the occasion, Governor Fubara disclosed that the Port Smart City construction, which is coming from a joint venture between the state government and Rainbow Heritage Group, is important to realign the state with modern developmental realities.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, emphasised that the development of new cities, urban renewal and development control is core to his administration’s strategy to ensure development spread and better the socio-economic welfare of Rivers people.

“The development of new cities and urban renewal is at the core of the programme of this government. Now development is following a new pattern where government and developers come in to partner with communities to ensure there is an orderly and well-planned development system,” he said.

He recalled that Port Harcourt, which was popularly referred to as the Garden City, is a shadow of itself due to over-population and the one city model development system whereby previous governors sort solutions.

“Port Harcourt used to be referred to as the Garden City of Nigeria because it was properly organized with roads, trees, and amenities. There was an imminent decay due to overpopulation and successive government thought on what to do.”

He recalled that the former governor, Peter Odili, introduced the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning; former Governor Chibuike Amaechi introduced the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA). “This project marks the beginning of the new phase of the GPHCDA,” he emphasised.

Governor Fubara stated that modalities were already in place to expand the GPHCDA to the New Cities Development Authority to encourage development spread across the state.