Obio/Akpor LGA mounts economic summit

Rivers State seems to wake up with economic summits which have now resonated in the state as peace settles in.

Obio/Akpor, the largest and richest LGA in the state which occupies more than half of the Rivers State capital is unveiling its first-ever economic summit this Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Gift Worlu, chairman of council, disclosed that the council has concluded plans to organise ‘Business and Economic Summit’ aimed at boosting the economy of the area and create employment opportunities for the people of the area.

The chairman used the opportunity to forge a strong relationship with the media community in the state, reminding them of a sensitive responsibility to save Nigeria.

The chairman used the opportunity of playing host to the officials of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on a courtesy call at the council headquarters, Rumuodomanya to rally media practitioners for tasks that would defend the society.

Worlu regretted that despite the presence of several higher institutions of learning and multinational oil companies in the LGA, the people of the area suffered from abject poverty and unemployment.

He stated that while the people of the area suffer from industrial wastes discharged by companies operating in the area, people from outside the LGA were those benefiting from contracts and supplies.

“We have sons and daughters of Obio/Akpor and other residents who are supposed to have employment. Why should our people not have employment? Which people are doing the contracts in those companies? Which people are doing the supplies in those companies?

“So, we are here and the companies are here with us. If it is an oil company, when they discharge their waste materials, we are the ones that suffer it. When they want something supplied, the supplier will be from another place. They will supply it here and take the money away. It doesn’t make sense. Even little contracts like consumables, they still don’t give it to our people.

“Our people are just there, turning to beggars, turning to Agberos and all that. So that meeting is for all of us; the media man, the lecturer, the security man, the company executive”, the chairman said.

Worlu, who recalled that he assumed office on August 30, 2026, said he signed a contract with the people to ensure their welfare, security, prosperity and general well-being.

Earlier in his remarks, Paul Bazia, NUJ chairman in the state, commended Worlu for embarking on programmes and policies that he said have had direct impact on the people of the LGA. The NUJ chairman listed some of them and urged the chairman to do more.