Bonny, the Headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State is up for ‘rediscovery’ as the Island Chamber launches ‘Discover Bonny’ tagline to boost its $16 billion economy with ‘Orange Economy’ scheme.
The island is said to contribute 4% to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) which could be estimated at $16 billion, going by the current size of Nigeria’s GDP at about $400 billion.
The project to launch the rediscovery of the island will be unveiled on August 18 -20, 2026, in Bonny, according to Constance Nwokejiobi, the President of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (Bonny Chamber) at a media briefing on Wednesday held at the Penthouse of the NUJ House on Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
The Chamber President, who stated that Bonny Island contributes 4% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), named Bonny’s economic pillars to include the NLNG, Renaissance Africa Energy (formerly SPDC), and many others.
She explained that Tourism is Bonny’s other economic front other than oil and gas, saying there is plan to connect Bonny with the Caribbean axis.
She said the ‘Discover Bonny Initiative’ is a three-year strategic programme to transform Bonny Island into a premier tourism destination.
‘Discover Bonny is not a slogan; it is a framework: it is a tourism concierge platform, a partnership framework spanning platinum, gold, silver, bronze, community tourism and international partnership tiers.
‘It is critically, a dedicated tourism centre driven by the private sector. That last point deserves emphasis: sustainable tourism cannot be built by government alone. A private sector anchored Tourism Centre ensures Bonny’s tourism economy is entrepreneurial, investable, and built to outlast any single administration or partnership cycle’, she noted.
She said this matters beyond Bonny.
‘Tourism is Nigeria’s orange economy, a creative, service-driven growth engine capable of diversifying and expanding our national GDP well beyond oil and gas.
‘Bonny Local Government Area alone already contributes an estimated 4% of Nigeria’s national GDP, largely from oil and gas. Our task now is to build a second, sustainable pillar alongside it, one rooted in tourism, heritage and hospitality, capable of outlasting any single resource cycle.’
She said the upcoming summit unveils Bonny’s ecotourism, industrial, cultural and heritage sites for development. ‘We are not only opening our Kingdom to visitors, we are opening a new front for Nigeria’s economic diversification. It is about a King’s vision, a nation’s endorsement.
‘None of this would be possible without the vision of His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III (who marks 30 years on the throne on December 21, 2026). It is His Majesty who first saw Bonny not only as an energy and industrial hub, but as a Kingdom of heritage, hospitality and history deserving global recognition. That vision is now backed in practice, with NLNG and Renaissance standing as anchor partners translating royal vision into funded reality.’
The Chamber President showed huge gratitude to the Federal Ministry of Tourism, the Rivers State Ministry of Tourism, and the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority for assessing and recognizing Bonny Island as a Premier Tourism Destination in Nigeria.
She equally thanked Governor Sim Fubara for making tourism development a genuine pillar of his administration, alongside the continued support of the NDDC.
The objectives of the summit were explained as four things: to formally launch the Discover Bonny brand and strategy to the world; to sign Tourism Partnership MOUs across every level, to present the three year roadmap for infrastructure and tourism development; and to bring investors, tourism experts, government officials, etc aligned for the future.
The Summit will be highlighted by royal tradition, investment dialogue, and the living culture of our Kingdom including courtesy visits, plenary sessions, launch of the ‘Discover Bonny Initiative’, golf tournament, Okoloama Fungumini Festival (a living showcase of Bonny’s masquerade tradition and communal celebration), and tours.