Federal Government, Rivers State Forge Tourism Partnership to Diversify Economy
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Hannatu Musawa and Rivers State Permanent Secretary for Culture and Tourism Tomonialadeokuma Ishmael signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Government House in Port Harcourt, formalizing a collaborative framework between the Federal Government and Rivers State Government. The agreement targets the development of tourism, arts, culture and the creative economy across the state.
The MOU reflects a broader Federal Government strategy initiated by President Bola Tinubu to drive economic diversification beyond traditional sectors. Musawa explained that the ministry was created specifically to expand economic opportunities and generate jobs through arts, culture, tourism and the creative economy. Pursuing those objectives in isolation, she made clear, was never the plan. The Federal Government has determined that partnerships with sub-national governments are essential to supporting existing initiatives and maximizing the tourism and cultural assets already present in individual states.
Rivers State occupies what Musawa characterized as a strategic position within the Federal Government’s tourism development plan. The state possesses existing infrastructure, accessibility through international flight connections, and rich cultural heritage, positioning it as one of the country’s “low-hanging fruits” for tourism development. The Renewed Hope Cultural Project will serve as the framework for expanding investments across these sectors while leveraging what the state has already built.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara used the ceremony to situate the agreement within his administration’s broader economic strategy. Economic development, he argued, must extend beyond roads and hospitals to encompass tourism, entertainment and hospitality. He pointed to Dubai, Spain and Qatar as models of how investments in leisure and recreation stimulate substantial economic growth, stating that Rivers State should aspire to create comparable destinations within its borders.
The state has already commenced foundational work. A new tourist beach is under development through a public-private partnership, with the first phase expected to open by December. The construction of the Oyorokoto road in Andoni Local Government Area represents another critical initiative, improving access to one of Nigeria’s finest beaches while exposing visitors to the region’s biodiversity. Recent images circulating online have documented elephants and other wildlife in the corridor opened by the new road, underscoring the area’s ecotourism potential.
Fubara committed to demonstrating visible implementation within four months, pledging to invite the Federal Government back to unveil projects that would show Rivers State’s commitment to the collaboration. He also commended the Federal Government for identifying Rivers as one of the key states for the Renewed Hope Cultural Project and assured Musawa of the state’s full support.
Meanwhile, the governor aligned the partnership explicitly with President Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda, framing it as an opportunity to create sustainable investments that would benefit future generations. This is not, in his telling, a short-term initiative. It is a long-term restructuring of the state’s economic base.
Musawa reciprocated the commitment, pledging that the Federal Government would work closely with Rivers State to develop initiatives capable of projecting it as a leading tourism destination while advancing Nigeria’s broader ambition of becoming Africa’s cultural and creative hub. She praised the state’s cultural diversity, referencing the traditional dance performance that welcomed her delegation upon arrival, and expressed optimism that the collaboration would transform Rivers into a major cultural, tourism and creative center.
Whether the four-month timeline Fubara set for visible results holds, and what specific projects the Federal Government chooses to co-invest in under the Renewed Hope Cultural Project, will be the first real test of how much weight this MOU carries.