The Rivers State Executive Council has approved four draft bills that would help stimulate investment, economic growth, employment, and urban renewal.
One of the draft bills approved for transmission to the House of Assembly is the New Towns Development Authority; which seeks to abolish the one-city status of Rivers State and facilitate the establishment of new towns and model cities
Ever since its creation 56 years ago, Rivers State has, like many other states in Nigeria, suffered from the menace of a one-city status
The only city it can boast of today is Port Harcourt, the state capital
Other parts of the state, including the old divisions of Ahoada, Bori, and Degema, are nothing but towns and villages
As part of efforts to reduce pressure on Port Harcourt and spread development to other parts of the state, the Fubara administration, under its urban renewal programme has approved a draft bill for consideration and approval by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
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That draft bill is the Rivers State New Towns Development Authority
Another draft bill approved by the Rivers State Executive Council is the Rivers State Entrepreneurship Trust Fund
The Fubara administration is also trying to put in place a framework that would help attract investment to the state
To this end, the Rivers State Executive Council is proposing two bills to the House of Assembly.
They are the Rivers State Investment Promotion Bill and the Rivers State Regulatory Commission Bill
(Editor: Ena Agbanoma)
