Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has blamed the growing hunger across Nigeria on persistent herdsmen activities and terrorism.
The Governor lamented that bandits have continued to attack farmers, making it difficult for them to engage in productive farm work.
Governor Fubara, however, challenged the church, as a critical partner of the government, to support all efforts at peace-building by preaching peace to congregants so that development efforts can genuinely yield dividends in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.
Governor Fubara gave the charge while declaring open the 2025 Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church, Port Harcourt, Diocese of Niger Delta, Province of Niger Delta, on Wednesday.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, said the government alone cannot single-handedly tackle the plethora of socio-political and economic challenges without support from critical stakeholders like the church and urged them not to shy away from their roles.
The governor said, “The Church is the only place—even for those who are not committed Christians but somehow go to church—where, when they continue to hear the Word every day, they are compelled to change their ways.
“And in changing, this is one of the issues that was also mentioned here: to increase evangelism, to spread the Gospel, and to bring positive changes in our lives and environment.”
Fubara added that listening to the Presidential Address by the Primate, His Grace, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, highlighted a few issues that aligned with some key areas of his administration, particularly his commitment to creating a safer environment, ensuring quality healthcare delivery, and improving the welfare of the citizenry.
He said, “We have issues of hunger. The hunger is not because we are no longer doing agriculture, but because of insecurity. This is why we can no longer produce, at least, to feed ourselves.
“It is not that we don’t have good hospitals and good doctors, but because of the kind of services and poor welfare packages for our doctors. What we hear is that they are ‘japa-ing.’
“And when they go out, they are the best over there. So, we need to encourage good welfare for our people so that our healthcare can also compete favorably with any other place in the world.”
Governor Fubara said his administration has allocated N5 billion for youth development and assured them of continued support.
The Governor also thanked the leadership of the church for approving Rivers State as the host for the meeting at such a difficult time, emphasizing that it affirms that God is truly with his administration.
He added, “You can imagine what is happening spiritually when clergymen and their wives are here, offering prayers across Rivers State with the purpose of this meeting.
“Our duty today is to wish you well and also declare this Standing Committee Meeting open. We have also seen the magnitude of work ahead, which is why we are supporting the activities of the church for the year 2025 with the sum of N500 million.”
