…Shows how Fubara in less than 3 years is positioning Rivers to compete with Lagos, New York, and Johannesburg
Gov Siminalayi Fubara clocked 51 years on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, attracting salutations and felicitations from far and near. One of those who took out time and page to salute the embattled governor is My-ACE China, an investor known as Mayor of Housing, who is regarded as a real estate success strategist.
In his own style of felicitation, China rather went after value, searching out areas where he and other developers consider the governor as a huge performer.
In a short presentation on the birthday, China mentioned what he termed ‘Five Key Economic Milestones of the Siminalayi Fubara Administration’ thus:
Speeding up land documentation:
He said: “No government has signed Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) as speedily and in such high numbers as the Fubara administration. This is crucial because a C of O makes land resources bankable; without it, lands are limited and unbankable.
The Greater Port Harcourt Housing Initiative:
“The administration has launched the initial development of a 20,000-housing unit memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Rivers State Government and TAF Global Limited. There is currently no government in Nigeria that has executed, or is even attempting, a project of 20,000 units anywhere in the country.”
The New Port City Development:
“The New Port City in Eleme is a mixed-use development—incorporating both industrial and housing zones—that will sit on 1,000 hectares. A scale of this magnitude can only be found in places like the new Lagos-Epe axis. Located at the base of the economic triangle between Rivers State, Akwa Ibom, and Abia, this is a significant project with immense future potential. Foreign companies are already anchoring their factories and operations within the city.”
Apolitical Public-Private Partnerships (PPP):
He went on: “It must be noted that the administration’s approach to Public-Private Partnerships is strictly apolitical. This is arguably more important than the other achievements because these projects are driven by private practitioners, not political interests. TAF Global, for instance, has a proven track record having built Golf Estate, while Rainbow Heritage (developing the New Port City) built Reef Court Estate. The government’s body language of dealing with proven private partners rather than political cronies ensures these developments continue, irrespective of administration changes—which is why work continued even during the recent political friction.”
The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency:
He said the fifth and perhaps biggest achievement is; “The creation of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA). A direct result of the Economic and Investment Summit held two years ago, this agency serves as a ‘One-Stop-Shop.’ Its mandate is not only to promote investment in Rivers State but also to protect existing investors and sell the state’s potential to the world.
“The Crown Jewel is the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency. The development of this government that is greater than housing, greater than new city projects, and greater than industrial development is the most significant economic milestone in recent Rivers State history: the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency.
“This agency does more than just promote business and attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into Rivers State. Crucially, it also protects and promotes Local Direct Investments (LDIs). This ensures that local investors are not only safeguarded but can also access everything they need from the government, seamlessly.
“Ultimately, the greatest achievement of His Excellency is opening up Rivers State to investments. This initiative positions the state as one of the world’s upcoming premier investment destinations—a hub capable of competing with Lagos, New York, Johannesburg, and other major global economic centres.”
Others concur:
Most others operating in the housing sector have agreed with the Mayor of Housing. Ugo Ohuabunwa; CEO of Masta-Rivers Development Company Limited, which is Special Purpose Vehicle put together by Masta Services company Limited with the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA) to put Port Harcourt back on the global map, says its not insecurity alone that drove high net worth persons out of Port Harcourt. He said absence of top residential locations for top people was one of the reasons. The group is building 2000 houses for topmost individuals around the Airport area where TAF is already attempting 20,000 for lower categories.
Adebayo Adeoshun, a consultant to the project, told BusinessDay that the project near the airport is a great dawn in Rivers State, saying it is not an easy breakthrough.
From the FMBN, Melody Ukwa, the Port Harcourt branch manager, praised Gov Fubara’s forays in the housing sector, and showed different types of mortgage offerings that are helping those who want funding.
Benneth Chu, the Administrator, Greater PH City Development Authority, told newsmen that the Fubara administration was fully committed to massive building projects with private sector partners. He said often, it is the government that seeks out genuine and tested developers to handle certain projects to ensure successful conclusion.
In years to come, according to Chamberlain Peterside, Director-General of the Rivers State Investment promotion Agency (RSIPA), Port Harcourt would no longer be boxed in but would expand along what he called triangular form to replace the former Ring Road which touched eight LGAs but a new ring road that touched the key development sections of Borokiri area linking to Choba/Eleme Junction and cutting through Onne port city back to Borokiri. That forms the new development pathway to help link up with the envisaged Economic Triangle in the south-south/south-east being seen to emerge along Port Harcourt (Rivers), Aba (Abia) and Uyo (Akwa Ibom). This economic triangle is expected to be the fastest growing zone in the Gulf of Guinea hoping to overtake Lagos economic belt.
