12th December, 2023
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
An entrepreneur, Mr. My-Ace China, has called on the Rivers State government and the media to spearhead the campaign to change the negative perception of investors about Port Harcourt, the state capital, to attract investments into the city.
China, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Construction and Housing Mayor Limited, made the call on Monday, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Rivers NUJ 2023 Correspondents’ Week, in Port Harcourt.
The week is organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in partnership with the ‘Mayor of Housing’ with the theme: ‘Rivers State And Quest For Ideal Investment Climate: Role Of The Media”.
He stated that there was the need for government to increase its support to the media for it to continue to engage in positive reportage of activities about the state.
China, who is popularly known as ‘Mayor of Housing’, said while residents of the state are tired of the capital flight from Port Harcourt, the government, especially, the incumbent governor is also tired of making promises without fulfilling them.
He said: “Entertainers are tired of the Lagos, Port Harcourt dichotomy. The greatest thing we are tired of is the capital flight. We are tired of that narrative that Port Harcourt is unsafe.
“The second part of what I want to say is that we are tired. I have been in Rivers State long enough to feel the pulse of the people; we are tired.
“Talk to the incumbent governor, he will tell you that he is tired of politicking and politics, he is hungry for value-ticking and value-tics. He is tired of political promises without dividends of democracy. He is tired of promises without deliverables.
“He is so passionate about delivering deliverables without minding whose ox is gored. He is committed to that, and I admire him greatly.”
On challenges faced by the real estate companies in building houses in the state, he said the challenge range from land grabbing by pretenders in business, the negative narrative painted that Port Harcourt and Rivers State are insecure, lack of ease of doing business and lack of roads linking developing areas.
He explained that unlike the other states, Rivers government are not excited by investors in real estate business because state is making enough money from oil and the people too are making money from oil companies.
The entrepreneur also said that the negative narrative that Rivers State is not safe also scares investors and capital away from the state. He cited his own example, as he noted that he has been finding it difficult to convince his partners to invest in the state
The “Mayor of Housing” pointed out that the menace of land grabbing has forced many out of business citing the example of a housing project his company is constructing at Alesa-Eleme in Eleme local government area of the state.
He said local vigilantes made of indigenes of the area will soon be launched to ward off the hoodlums.
Photos:
(From Left to Right) Mr My Ace-China, the chief executive officer of Construction and Housing Mayor limited, Emi-Membre Otaji and Dr. Gbarale Korsi, representing Professor Barineme Fakae, former Vice Chancellor Rivers State University,Port Harcourt, Amaechi Okonkwo, Chairman Correspondent’s Chapel.
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