Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed dissatisfaction with the decentralization of Rivers State University (RSU), stating that the expansion into multiple campuses has failed to achieve its intended impact.
The initiative, introduced by former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the FCT, saw RSU extend its reach to Ahoada, Emohua, and Etche Local Government Areas, with each campus designated for specific faculties.
However, speaking during a solidarity visit from members of the Kalabari ethnic group on Tuesday, Fubara dismissed the initiative as unsustainable.
Fubara disclosed that a recommendation has been put forward to reintegrate the satellite campuses back into the main RSU campus in Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, near Mile 3 Market, Port Harcourt.
“As of today, there is a memo recommending that those campuses be consolidated back into the main campus of the university,” he revealed. “Ours will not follow that path.”
The governor also responded to calls for a higher institution in the Kalabari region, emphasizing a strategic approach over indiscriminate establishment of schools.
He advocated for vocational institutions that are self-sustaining and capable of attracting federal support.
“We will study it carefully, and whatever we establish must be self-sustaining,” Fubara stated. “It is not just about creating a tertiary institution; it has to be one that, while receiving government support, can also attract federal attention.”
Governor Fubara reassured the Kalabari people of his administration’s commitment to ongoing infrastructural projects in the region.
Among these are the 12.5km Trans-Kalabari Road, valued at N200 billion, and the 19.7km Buguma–Abalama–Tema–Degema–Abonnema Road.
According to him, previous administrations had hesitated to embark on the Trans-Kalabari Road due to its high cost, but his government is pressing ahead with the project, confident in its long-term benefits.
“Our eyes were open because we knew what we were entering into. It is not a joke; it is a big project,” Fubara stated. “At the end of that project, the level of development it will bring will be unprecedented.”
He added that improved road access would help curb insecurity along the waterways and lower the cost of living in the region.
During the visit, the Kalabari people formally endorsed Fubara for a second term, pledging to mobilize support for his re-election in 2027.
The governor, however, downplayed immediate political concerns, stating that his focus remains on governance.
“Power belongs to God,” he said. “When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. If we can break the bridge, Moses will come and create a road for us.”
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Fubara also announced plans for the rehabilitation of Abonnema General Hospital and directed the state’s Commissioner for Works to assess and commence the second phase of sand-filling projects in Buguma.
The Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Gbobo Bobmanuel, speaking on behalf of the Kalabari delegation, commended the governor for his commitment to development in their region.
With the 2027 elections still distant, Fubara remains focused on delivering key projects, strengthening governance, and solidifying his political standing in Rivers State.