Anabs Sara-Igbe: Tourism Key to Rivers’ Development

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt Former spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, has called on the Rivers State government to prioritise tourism development, describing the sector as a major driver of economic growth, employment generation, investment and internally generated revenue. Sara-Igbe said the state could unlock its vast tourism potential by developing its Atlantic coastline, improving access roads to coastal communities and implementing policies capable of attracting investors and visitors. He identified Kula community, the Andoni area, Bonny, among others as locations with significant tourism potential, noting that Rivers State’s extensive shoreline could become a major attraction for domestic and international visitors. Speaking on the economic benefits of tourism, Sara-Igbe said Rivers State could replicate the success of renowned beach destinations around the world by developing its coastal assets. “Why is it Miami Beach? People travel all over the world to Miami to swim at the beach. The Caribbean islands attract people because of their beaches. We can develop all these within Nigeria, within Rivers State, and people will come,” he said. He stressed that the development of tourism infrastructure, particularly roads linking coastal communities to major urban centres, would be critical to realising the sector’s potential. “What we need is to build roads to these areas so people can go in and come out freely. As soon as we have that, there will be security, and other economies will grow,” he said. According to him, improved access to tourist destinations would stimulate complementary economic activities, including fishing, agriculture, oil and gas-related services, and agro-allied industries. He explained that tourism development could attract businesses, create jobs, expand commercial activities and increase government revenue through taxation. Sara-Igbe also argued that developing the sector would help reduce the concentration of economic activities in Port Harcourt by encouraging the emergence of new urban and industrial centres across the state. “We will not think of Port Harcourt as the only city. We should think of expanding into more cities and establishing more industries, so Rivers State can become a gloryland,” he said. The former PANDEF spokesperson said tourism could provide significant employment opportunities for the state’s youthful population, while creating new income streams for local communities and small businesses. He argued that attracting visitors from other parts of Nigeria and the wider South-south region would stimulate demand for accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment, handicrafts and other services. Beyond employment generation, he said, the resulting expansion of business activities would increase the state’s revenue base and create opportunities for residents who had relocated to other commercial centres, particularly Lagos, to return and invest in Rivers State. Sara-Igbe, however, emphasised that realising these benefits would require political will, effective governance and consistent policies to support tourism development. “We need the government’s will and policy to push tourism, because through tourism, we can better our economy,” he said. He described tourism as an important component of a broader economic restructuring agenda for Rivers State, alongside agriculture and industrial development. “If you build the road to Kula and develop tourism, the land is there. Fishery will grow, tourism will grow, agriculture will grow, and so many things will happen. More people will come, businesses will grow, and the economy will grow,” he said. He maintained that a coordinated investment in tourism infrastructure and coastal development could help Rivers State diversify its economy, strengthen community livelihoods and establish new engines of sustainable growth.