Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State looks back at his first year in office with satisfaction, having navigated the political turbulence that marked his term’s start. Fubara pointed to a legacy of 34 unfinished projects worth over ₦200 billion left by his predecessors and has since made strides towards their completion, with others steadily progressing.
During his stewardship review in Abuja, Governor Fubara showcased his administration’s headway in areas like infrastructure, economy, education, and healthcare, despite the political upheaval that significantly delayed the onset of his governance efforts.
New projects are on the horizon, with the Port Harcourt Ring Road and Trans-Kalabari Road among the nine road endeavors launched and collectively appraised at over ₦500 billion. Fubara informed the public that aside from the Ring Road, which is debt-financed, his government’s saved funds are covering these projects’ expenses.
On the economic front, the Governor reported a buoyant surge in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), leaping from ₦12 billion to close to ₦28 billion each month, a feat attributed to strategic measures such as forming an IGR advisory team, which he leads. This revenue jump, alongside a N40 billion partnership with the Bank of Industry for small business loans, signifies progress in reducing reliance on federal allocations.
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In terms of education and healthcare, Governor Fubara laid out expenditures totaling over ₦25 billion, including significant payments for secondary and tertiary educational initiatives and the completion of various school infrastructures. For healthcare, contributions span from funding Lassa fever containment to constructing new medical infrastructure. His administration has worked to revamp healthcare facilities and services, rolling out 35 operational primary healthcare centers.
Notably, Governor Fubara addressed the matter of the 60% over-aged civil service job candidates, promising corrections and new opportunities for those aged 30-35. Despite this, he remained silent on the condition of select healthcare facilities initiated by the previous government.
Concluding the review, he pledged sustained dedication to advancing Rivers State’s prosperity and well-being, with the intention of positioning it as one of Nigeria’s premier regions.
