The Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) says Rivers State is back in business. The Agency has also articulated plans that would accelerate economic and investment activities in the state after the state of emergency that lasted between March and September 2025.
These clarifications were handed down by Chamberlain Peterside, the pioneer Director-General of RSIPA during the unveiling of the 2025 Port Harcourt International Trade Fair which took place at the auditorium of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA).
The unveiling was coordinated by Chinyere Nwoga, the first female president of PHCCIMA with the support of Joe Johnson (a reappointed commissioner deployed to Trade and Industry), Peterside (DG of RSIPA), and Emi Membere-Otaji (captain of industry and first national deputy president of the NACCIMA).
Speaking at the event, the DG said RSIPA would play a prominent role in the upcoming international trade fair.
He said: “Now, let me dwell a little bit on the work of the agency (RSIPA) and how we try to interface with the city chamber. First, as you know, we are new, young, but dynamic. We are business -oriented.
“We have had some period of, I would say, hiccups. Somebody called it six months sabbatical, but during that period, we didn’t have any doubt that we’ll be back. And as I speak, I want to proudly say that Rivers State is back again.”
On the way forward, Peterside, who was the Rivers State Commissioner for Finance during the Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi administration and arrowhead of the economic team, said as a business-oriented and investment-focused agency, “Our job is to facilitate, promote, and to ensure businesses get all the support that they require and desire.
“We want to improve the ease of doing business (EoDB), and in so doing, we want to first make sure that every business entity and every group, such as the city chamber, gets open access to government through the agency. So, we have an open door policy. I, as a DG, I’m prompt on returning calls and inquiries within 24 hours.
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Information, greatest need of businesses:
He warned that the soul need of businesses is timely information. “I’m also on call for businesses that want to walk in or to access information through our One-Stop-Centre. This would do pretty much. It would help facilitate ease of doing business. And we found out from our experience that information is key. And a lot of the bureaucracy and the hassles that businesses experience in the emerging market, and especially in Nigeria, about information is what holds the key to your progress. If they hide it, then I’m sorry it’ll take you either so much time so much money or you might as well just give up so for instance.”
On how business would profit in the new way of doing things, he said; “We have found this collaborative effort with ministries, departments and agents that as I speak, we have the approval of the government to turn our headquarters on Moscow Road into a beehive of business promotion activities.
In that building you will find the SEC, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, and it is now the South-South regional office of the NIPC.
Key officials from government ministries and departments and agencies (MDA) will be there, including Ministry of Land, which we know is key in obtaining your certificate of occupancy; Ministry of Urban Development which we know is key in obtaining your certificate of occupancy, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, who are leaders in business registration and permits without which you can’t operate, and we collaborating very closely with the honourable commissioner.”
He reassured thus: “At this stage where we are, we are not only proudly supporting the 18th international trade fair, but beyond.”
He went on: “We hope to carry out other activities and I want to quickly point out that during the trade fair we want to host a breakout session that we call ‘Engagement with the Private Sector’. We want to engage the private sector especially the leading lamps.
“We do have a list of top tax payers in Rivers State, especially the leading companies and investors in the state. We’ve had a good fortune of having some of the largest operators of the oil and gas sector currently still here despite some of them trying to migrate. So, we will be hosting engagement with that group and we will also be unveiling some of the key private sector-led and government infrastructure projects.
“We are glad that government is continuously investing very aggressively in multi-billion naira projects, whether it’s the Trans Kalabari Road, the Port Harcourt Ring Road, and urban renewal initiative that are ongoing in PH township again.
“So, as the government invests in infrastructure, our job is to make sure that we help and harness the potentials, make it easy for businesses that already operate to continue to operate and thrive and make it also possible for new domestic investors and foreign investors to be able to have opportunities within the state.”
Earlier, Peterside expressed huge delight in associating with the trade fair and PHCCIMA saying he is a businessman by heart, a core Port Harcourt boy, and the pioneer DG of RSIPA.
He mentioned things that have never happened in the state’s investment climate before now taking place and explained how the Sim Fubara administration is fully and passionately behind the trade fair and return of businesses so that the profile and the status of the event should be uplifted to meet and match international standards as the name signifies.
“We thus made all efforts to make sure that the Chamber gets the kind of support that it desires from the state government. And the governor graciously granted the approvals that we had requested. Hence, we’re happy. Despite some delays, I’m happy to hear that there’s plan of action.”
