Chief Economic Adviser to Delta State Governor, Dr Kingsley Emu, has said the Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa administration has managed the state resources prudently between May 29, 2015 and December 2022 as can be seen in the good governance strides and legacies of the administration.
This is in response to the propaganda and falsehood of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, prior to the 2023 general elections, claiming that the state borrowed over N850 billion.
Governor Okowa had earlier debunked the claims, describing the figures quoted by the APC and Omo-Agege as coming from the “pit of hell” and not true at all.
Speaking on the matter, the Chief Economic Adviser to Delta State governor explained that the state borrowed to extensively develop infrastructure, human capital and other productive sectors of the state economy, including huge investments in Contributory Health Scheme, which has recorded over 1.2 million enrollees across major hospitals and standard health centres in the three senatorial districts.
He said the massive Beneku Bridge in Ndokwa, which is under construction, has gulped huge funds and will upon completion open the area for businesses and expand frontiers of economic growth for the state.
Dr. Emu asserted that the non-oil sector, especially agriculture and services, created job and wealth for the people, and that if not for the COVID-19 pandemic which rudely interrupted the Kwale Industrial Park project, Delta would have been earning huge revenue from commercial activities and other foreign direct investments (FDI). He assured that Kwale Park project will be completed in the next administration.
Delta State, according to Dr Emu, doubled the size of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) under the Okowa administration from N2.9trn to N6.1trn, constructed six bridges, five other bridges in the works, constructed over 2,000km length of roads, 1,400km length of drains, completed and commissioned the Asaba Bridge at the popular Ibusa Junction, which completely put an end to the problem of persistent heavy traffic along Asaba-Onitsha federal highway.
Okowa’s Chief Economic Adviser disclosed that significant progress was also made in upscaling Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to between N60 billion and N80 billion, and that Delta remained one of the major oil producing states with rising revenue profile for the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Dr Emu pointed out that with the increase in IGR coupled with oil revenue earnings, as well as the massive infrastructure and human capacity development recorded so far, it’s safe to assert that the debt profile of the state is in good standing; from N154.64 billion in 2015 to N304.24 billion in 2022, considering the N240 billion owed Delta by the Federal Government.
He further disclosed that the recent N100 billion banks bridging facility accessed by the state government to complete some ongoing projects under this administration was linked to the N240 billion debt owed the state by the federal government, adding that the state is also doing substantial investment in UTM and other related businesses, thereby expanding the frontiers of Delta economy like never before.
He posited that the Ogheye Floating Market that was built and commissioned by the Okowa administration is obviously the largest in Africa. This magnificent sight to behold in the midst of the sprawling waters of Koko in Warri North Local Government Area of the state is 80 metres by 70 metres with a landing jetty, 96 open shops, 80 lock-up shops, a security tower, a gate house, a canteen, an administrative building, a banking hall, a fish processing unit, a warehouse building, toilet facilities, and a protective fence.
Delta State Government under Senator Okowa also built and equipped a world-class, 7-star State Secretariat at a cost of over N18 billion, solidly resting on 45,000 square metres of land, accommodates 27 ministries, departments and agencies with banking halls, creche, medical centre, IPP, centralised internet facility, massive car park, et al., providing healthy and conducive work environment for civil and public servants in the state, he said.
“We have excelled in multifaceted projects and socioeconomic development in almost eight years. In 2017, Delta State was rated the best in human capital development, job and wealth creation in Nigeria by National Competitiveness Council of Nigeria, a reputable not-for-profit organisation. We are still the best,” Dr Emu said.
“In terms of borrowing, Delta State is in good standing, considering our enviable status as one of the major oil revenue earners, and this administration has done well in terms of prudent management of resources and overall development of the state.
“The solid foundation for sustainable socioeconomic and infrastructure development laid by this administration under the leadership of our governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, shall be built upon by the incoming administration which is to advance Delta, as encapsulated in the M.O.R.E agenda of the Governor-Elect, Rt Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori,” he assured.
