Eleme Kingdom Transforms Under King Appolus Chu’s Visionary Leadership

Mary Nnah

In a remarkable display of visionary leadership, Eleme Kingdom has undergone a transformative development, thanks to the efforts of its monarch, King Dr. Appolus Chu OFR, Oneh-Eh Nchia X. According to Hadiza Babakatcha’s documentary, the king’s long-term vision for town planning and sustainable community development has been instrumental in shaping the community’s future.

“The video captures one of the many roads created by His Royal Highness, King Dr. Appolus Chu OFR, Oneh-Eh Nchia X of Eleme Kingdom, as part of his long-term vision for town planning and sustainable community development in his community”, Babakatcha, an environmental journalist and independent media content producer, noted in her documentary.
“This is not a single project, but a series of road networks executed in phases, from Phase 1 through Phase 5, strategically designed to open up the community and improve access”, she added.

As stated by Babakatcha, the project has had a profound impact on the community, with hundreds of millions of naira invested from the king’s personal resources.
“Funds, running into hundreds of millions, that could have been used for personal advancement or for building estates for himself and his children were instead invested in public infrastructure,” she highlighted.
The documentary showcases the improved accessibility and safety of the area, with previously inaccessible hinterlands now open.
“The roads have effectively mapped out the town, signposting the emergence of new cities in Eleme, while giving more value to the land”, Babakatcha observed.
“Plots that were sold for as cheap as two hundred thousand naira only a few years ago, are now worth millions, affording landowners the opportunity to grow wealth from the sale of their land; thereby empowering the people”, she added.

Babakatcha also noted the impact of the road project on security in the area. “Before this initiative, criminal elements took advantage of their remote nature and dense forests in these areas to hide their kidnap victims there and perpetrate other illegal activities, as the areas were considered no-go zones due to their distance from the town,” she says. “Thankfully, through the foresight and innovation of King Dr. Appolus Chu, these areas have been opened up and now offer no more cover to such criminals.”

The documentary highlights the recognition the project has received, with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) tarring some of the earlier roads created by King Appolus Chu.
“Notably, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has tarred some of the earlier roads created by King Appolus Chu”, Babakatcha noted.
Additionally, the Rivers State Government has taken up the tarring of one of the newly created roads, while the Federal Government has sent a team to conduct inspections of the ongoing roads project.

The roads have also offered strategic connections to industrial areas like the Indorama Petrochemical Complex and Onne Sea Port, as well as residential areas within Eleme and her neighboring local government area of Oyigbo. “With this level of accessibility and development, the area is now attracting investors into Eleme Kingdom, and further decongesting the City of Port Harcourt”, Babakatcha noted further.

In addition to the roads, King Appolus Chu has also invested in a huge industry in the area, boasting of lots of warehouses.
“He is calling on other investors to avail themselves of the use of these facilities”, Babakatcha said, adding, “Hopefully, in years to come, the industrial estate that would spring up in the area will further position Rivers State as the industrial hub of the Niger Delta.”

King Appolus Chu’s commitment to people-centered governance and his willingness to investin the future of his community is evident in his words, as quoted by Babakatcha: “There are many people that God would have used to achieve this dream. That He decided to choose me is my honour and privilege. I am grateful for the opportunity, and will continue to devote myself to creating avenues to make life better for our people and settlers in our midst.”
Babakatcha also highlightd the king’s call to action, where he urges his people to support the government in making life better for the community. “I call on our people to do the little they can in supporting the government to make life better for us, rather than leaving everything for the government alone,” King Chu says. “The government has its role, and we also have our own roles to play.”