Anticipation is building across Port Harcourt following the arrival of a team from Landmark Group, which has unveiled plans to invest N10 billion in the development of a world-class beach destination aimed at boosting tourism and economic activity in the city.
According to businessday.ng, hopes are thus high that the ‘Landmark Magic’ is on the way to the Port Harcourt Tourist Beach which was dead for decades.
Now, the group that turns beaches to world class tourist centres, Landmark, is said to be bringing initial N2.5bn in Rivers State to turn the once famous Port Harcourt Tourist Beach into a magic.
Officials of the company told BusinessDay in an interview after inspection of the Beach that underground work has since begun but soon, open construction will start.
Rivers State government officials want quicker action for tourists to begin to pour into the town area of Port Harcourt where the Tourist Beach is located but Parkland officials suggest December 2026 for the explosion to begin.
BusinessDay gathered that though the public private partnership (PPP) agreement was signed sometime in the past, some details of size and unencumbered landmass were yet to be cleaned out.
It was further gathered that it was better to work with clearly unencumbered space size to start work so the more land space becomes available, the more the partners expand.
A major milestone was thus reached on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, when minor touches were done and final nod was given for serious work to begin. Sources said Gov Sim Fubara has been pushing the project like a private sector investor, asking questions, moving the chips for action to start.
Landmark officials admitted that Rivers State has been behaving like private sector people, meeting timelines and getting things done. They pointed at a place such as the Rives State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA) as a major catalyst helping to get things done. “This is the best place we have been to in terms of getting things done at the right time, expect the period when government business was shut down”, a source told BusinessDay.
This seems to spite hopes that beaches in Rivers State may wake up and become investment centres and money spinning points attracting huge investors.
Adaobi Nwanze, the head of legal unit of Landmark who seems to have all facts about international tourism business in her fingertips said operations were scheduled to begin in time for the Yuletide season (December 2026), with what she termed a ‘soft launch’ planned a week or two prior.
The Tourist Beach located at Borokiri beside the river which leads to Bonny and takes someone into the Atlantic Ocean offers a large space for fun, games, relaxation, swimming, eating out, etc.
Now, with the ‘Landmark Magic’, new core offerings may include leisure, hospitality, and tourism attractions including food and beverage (F&B) offerings., and land and water sports. There will be what experts call “A signature ‘Upside-Down House’ usually planned for all Landmark resort locations.
There would be family-centered facilities and attractions for children. More facilities to come will make economic and social impact.
Nwanze talked about the business model of international standards. “The project functions as a platform for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) in the hospitality sector.
“Partnership Approach: Landmark utilizes a partnership model rather than high fixed rents. “If they succeed, then we succeed,” noted Nwanze, explaining that the capital outlay for SMEs to join is kept low to foster a cohesive ecosystem.
On employment, she said it is based on previous projects (like Landmark Beach Lagos), and the team expects high engagement with young people and women (previously 40% of tenants were women-owned or managed businesses.
A major issue of businesses of such type and magnitude is security especially within the area, not necessarily in the confines of the project. On this, Tamonialadiekuma Ishmael, permanent secretary, Ministry of Tourism Development, said enough efforts had been made in security and community engagement.
He said it is when the community does not have a stake in a facility that insecurity would arise. The permanent secretary emphasized that there is active community engagement. “The local “boys” and community members are being integrated as stakeholders and potential employees (artisans, performers, etc.).
“There will be safety protocols. The resort will have certified lifeguards and strict safety protocols for water activities to address the ‘fear of water’ common among those from upland areas.”
He assured that community engagement has been done to achieve the buy-in of the community.
Confirming the notion that the Rivers State government businesslike, Nwanze said: “The River State Government, including the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Tourism, has been personally involved and supportive of the negotiations.”
The new Landmark Port Harcourt Tourist Beach would ooze with international appeal, attracting Nigerians in the Diaspora. For ‘Glocal Strategy’, the team aims for a ‘world-class standard’ combined with local flavor—a concept they call ‘Glocal.’
The resort aims to attract local residents, international tourists, and the diaspora. The head of legal said Landmark’s history with multinational clients (like Google, HP, and IBM) and international coverage (BBC) are evidence of their ability to meet global expectations.
“It’s the same magic we want to create here in Rivers State. It’s something in our DNA.”
Nwanze said: “Port Harcourt is a big deal for us. We’ve always been looking for opportunities in the Niger Delta, and this was just the perfect fit. What we are bringing to Port Harcourt is what we call the ‘Landmark Magic.’ It’s an ecosystem where you have leisure, hospitality, and tourism all in one place. We are looking at food and beverage offerings, land and water sports, and our signature ‘Upside-Down House’, which we plan to have in all our resort locations.
“Our business model is unique. We create a platform for SMEs to thrive. We lower the barriers so they succeed, we succeed. In our previous projects, about 40% of our tenants were women-owned or managed businesses. If they succeed, we succeed. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Emeka Njoku, Project Manager, Landmark Port Harcourt Resort Development, added: “We are working round the clock. The goal is to have the operations running in time for the Yuletide season—so, December.”
Nwanze added: “Glocal means we are global in our standards but local in our flavor. We know what the international community and the diaspora expect when they come home. We are bringing that world-class standard to Port Harcourt.
Chamberlain Peterside, the Director-General of RSIPA, confirmed that extensive PPP legwork has been done and that the place is set for constriction works to start with all matters cleared. He said this is a kickstart of the Rivers State Beach Development scheme which is the anchor of the Blue Economy in the state.
Enthusiasm is high that the PH Tourist Beach would boom with tourists, visitors, workers from the multinational corporations that seek safe places to have fun with their families.
Those in government say, of a truth, Rivers is back to business.
