Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Rivers State, has promised to grow the State’s estimated $20bn Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to $200billion within 15 years, if elected governor in 2027.
Lulu-Briggs, while addressing a media parley in Buguma, headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, on Monday, said that his campaign slogan, ‘Reset Rivers State’, aimed to reset the state’s politics, governance and economy in a comprehensive effort to transform its fortunes.
He said that he had what it took to transform the State’s economy, promising to strengthen the aviation sector, improve the hospitality and coastal tourism sectors, and grow the state’s gross domestic product.
‘If you look at our potential and our reality, the dissonance would marvel you. And I’ll give you a few examples. In 1999, Rivers State and Lagos were at par. Lagos had its GDP put at $20bn. Rivers State had the same thing. Today, Rivers State is still at $20bn, not my figures, the NPS figures. Lagos has, depending on the number you want to use, purchasing power parity or nominal GDP, is at $259bn,’ he said.
Lulu-Briggs added: ‘It will surprise you to know that the Port Harcourt International Airport is due for concessioning, as a failed airport. Our seaports are not functioning. In fact, the only road is impossible. In the last 13 years, aside from the last quarter of 2023, Rivers State has not had any capital importation into the state.
‘So when we say that we want to reset Rivers State, we understand exactly what it means. For us, we are looking at moving Rivers State from its approximation of $20bn annual GDP to well over $200bn GDP in the next 15 years,’ he said.
The NDC Governorship candidate said his administration would focus on making the civil service functional, efficient and attractive, while investing heavily in critical sectors capable of driving sustainable economic growth.
He added that the health sector would receive particular attention, including the recruitment of more doctors and other medical personnel and the improvement of healthcare facilities across the local government areas.
Lulu-Briggs said that his administration, would seek to make healthcare facilities in the state more comfortable and attractive to medical professionals, while developing the health sector as a potential tourism destination.
He also promised to promote youth entrepreneurship through talent development and create an environment where young people could turn their skills and ideas into viable businesses.
Lulu-Briggs said that his administration would place emphasis on standards and infrastructure capable of attracting investment in the creative industry.
He stressed the need to reposition Port Harcourt as a business-friendly city by implementing policies and providing infrastructure that would open the state’s commercial capital to greater investment and economic opportunities.
The NDC Governorship candidate said Rivers State had a history of greatness which, according to him, could be restored through purposeful leadership and inclusive governance.
‘We must remind ourselves of how great Rivers State is, and we must make it great again. We should not let this chance pass us by,’ he said.
Lulu-Briggs promised to run an inclusive administration, saying he would not be beholden to any political godfather.
‘I have no godfather, so I will run an all-inclusive government that will give every Rivers man and woman equal opportunity to participate in a broad economy without having to lean to any particular party or ethnic group,’ he said.
Lulu-Briggs noted that the proposed reset would be driven by policies that prioritised equal opportunity, economic expansion, human capital development and improved living standards for residents across the state.