Port Harcourt — The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo (SAN), has described the defection of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a major political gain for the ruling party in the South-South.
Keyamo made the remark on Friday in Rivers State while inaugurating the newly completed Igwuruta–Airport Roadand flagging off construction of a bypass linking the Port Harcourt International Airport to the Tollgate, both projects initiated by the Fubara administration.
“I won’t conclude without warmly welcoming the latest catch in APC,” Keyamo said. “We set a trap to catch a frog, but we caught an elephant in the person of Sir Siminalayi Fubara.”
The minister said he was in the state to witness the formal presentation of the APC membership card to the governor, describing the ruling party as the largest political family in Africa.
Keyamo praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s leadership and reforms, which he said had made the APC increasingly attractive to the South-South region.
“As a true son of the South-South, I want to thank Mr President for all he has done for Rivers State and this region,” he said. “It has never been this good for the South-South. From zero representation in 2015, we are now six over six states under the ruling party.”
He noted that Rivers State has historically aligned with the federal government, adding that its period in opposition since 2015 was an aberration.
The aviation minister also said the road projects had resolved long-standing challenges facing the Port Harcourt International Airport, particularly poor access roads that had created a negative first impression for visitors.
“Once you branched off the highway to the airport, the road was always in deplorable condition. Rivers State has now solved one of our biggest headaches in aviation,” he said.
Keyamo also apologized to host communities around the airport for past grievances involving the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the aviation ministry, acknowledging protests over neglect and lack of basic amenities.
“The governor came to our rescue. His swift intervention doused tensions and provided relief to the community,” he said, assuring that the federal authorities would reciprocate the warmth and cooperation shown by residents.
He added that the new bypass would open up economic opportunities, stimulate commercial activity and improve access to both the airport and surrounding communities.
In his remarks, Governor Siminalayi Fubara confirmed his defection to the APC, declaring himself the “001 member” of the party in Rivers State.
“I am not just a member of the APC; I am number one,” Fubara said. “From this moment, it is no longer a question of whether I belong. I am here with all my heart.”
The governor pledged full political support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying Rivers State would play a key role in ensuring a smooth re-election campaign.
“We will join forces with every group supporting the President. The only way we can continue to say thank you to Mr President is to support him,” Fubara said.
He assured residents that his administration would remain focused on development and stability, urging supporters to avoid actions that could bring negative attention to the state.
Reflecting on last year’s protest that led to the temporary blockade of the airport by host communities, Fubara described the incident as embarrassing, especially during a period of political tension in the state.
“The interpretation was that the government was doing nothing. So we intervened,” he said.
He explained that while employment demands were outside the state’s authority, his government addressed other concerns by activating a healthcare centre, restoring electricity, and engaging aviation authorities.
To permanently resolve the problem, the governor said his administration conceived the airport bypass project to separate community access routes from airport traffic.
“It is not healthy to pass through the airport to access your community,” he said. “This bypass will bring development without disrupting airport operations.”
Fubara disclosed that the Igwuruta–Airport Road spans 12.2 kilometres, while the newly flagged-off bypass measures 7.1 kilometres, bringing total road investment in the axis to 19.3 kilometres.
He promised that the bypass would be completed within eight months, adding that once operational, the old airport road would be tolled.
“When this road is completed, you won’t have any business on the old road unless you are going to the airport,” he said.
The governor thanked the host communities, the aviation ministry and airport authorities for their cooperation, saying the projects would enhance security, ease movement and attract investment into Rivers State.
Babatunde Akinsola ✔
Godwin Okafor is the Publisher & CEO of Naija247news Media Group LLC, an independent investigative news platform delivering accurate, data-driven reporting on Nigerian and global politics, economy, finance, and business. Founded in October 2010, Naija247news specializes in developmental journalism, providing timely insights and analysis to readers across Nigeria and the diaspora.
View Archive →
