Rivers State, one of Nigeria's 36 States was created from the then Eastern Region of Nigeria by Decree No. 19 of 1967. Before then, the territory was referred to as Oil Rivers Protectorate, a name derived from its central role in the oil trades of the last two centuries. First,the trade in palm oil and then,crude oil. The state is the heart of the hydro-carbon industry, responsible for a huge chunk of the nation's foreign exchange earnings.It is accountable for over 48% of crude oil produced on-shore in the country and 100% of the liquefied natural gas that Nigeria is currently exporting to several countries of the world.The strategic importance of Rivers State in the economic equation of Nigeria earned it the name “Treasure Base of the Nation” Port Harcourt, the state capital, is known all over the world as the Garden City, because of its beautiful layout and decent environment. Port Harcourt is indeed one of the fastest growing metropolitan cities in Africa.