Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State has issued a warning over the unchecked plunder of Nigeria's maritime resources by foreign fishing vessels, as the country's leading business chamber convened in Port Harcourt for its 66th annual conference.
Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Annual General Meeting and Conference, Fubara called on Nigeria to take decisive action against foreign fishing trawlers operating illegally along its coastline, scooping up seafood and departing without paying taxes or any form of compensation.
Represented at the event by his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu, the governor was unambiguous in his message.
"We must wake up and be the watchdog and make sure that what is ours remains ours. Trawlers come to our coast, the West African coast, the Nigerian coast, to scoop up seafood and go away. They don't pay taxes, they don't pay any premium," he said.
He praised NACCIMA for selecting the blue economy as this year's conference theme The Gulf of Guinea and the Blue Economy: Pathways to a One Trillion Dollar Economy, describing the choice as timely and necessary.
Fubara also welcomed the decision to host the conference in Rivers State for the first time in its history, calling it a reflection of growing business confidence in the region.
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"I believe you have done it intentionally to draw our attention to the issue of the blue economy. This eflects the growing confidence that Rivers State is a destination for business, investment and partnership," he said.
The governor restated his administration's commitment to fostering private sector participation, insisting that no nation can reach its full economic potential without meaningful involvement from organised business.
"The government and the private sector must work together to unlock the vast economic potentials of our state and the nation," he said.
NACCIMA's National President, Dr Jani Ibrahim, echoed the sentiment, praising Rivers State's business-friendly direction and commending the state government's investments in road infrastructure, urban renewal and trade facilitation.
Ibrahim announced that Rivers State could serve as a model for Nigeria's broader blue economy ambitions.
"We are hopeful and convinced that Rivers State will provide the lessons, the home for a blue economy for Nigeria," he said.
The President of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), Dr Chinyere Nwoga, said hosting the conference in Port Harcourt was a sign of the esteem in which NACCIMA holds the state, and an opportunity to position Rivers State as Nigeria's economic gateway to the Gulf of Guinea and beyond.
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