ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR DR IFEANYI OKOWA,
GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE, TO MARK THE FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION ON MONDAY, MAY 23, 2016, AT THE PRESS CENTRE, OLD GOVERNMENT
HOUSE, ASABA.
Gentlemen of the Press
When I addressed the State immediately after my
swearing-in as Governor on May 29, 2015, we were in the middle of a serious
economic crisis. Our monthly revenue both from the Federation Account and
Internally Generated Revenue had dipped significantly. The non-oil sector of
the economy remained largely untapped. The level of youth unemployment was
troubling, posing a clear and present danger to the socio-political stability
of the State. Our credit was in bad shape, and the financial system was at
best, shaky and at worst, perilous. Indeed, our promise of prosperity for all
Deltans seemed illusory.
2. Upon assumption of office, we moved swiftly
and decisively to restructure our liabilities and instituted processes and
procedures to plug leakages, eliminate wastes and ensure fiscal discipline. The
fiscal consolidation measures we put in place have enabled us to achieve a
great deal of macro-economic stability while creating the right conditions for
us to implement programmes under the S.M.A.R.T agenda.
3. Had we not taken the steps we took, our
financial system would have been on the verge of collapse by now. The global
price of oil has continued to tumble, the naira has substantially weakened
against the dollar, and recent security challenges in the Niger Delta region
have combined to compound our national economic woes. Yet despite the
prevailing harsh economic reality, I am pleased to announce that we have made
steady – and remarkable – progress in the fulfilment of our campaign promises.
4. I will now present to you some highlights
of our achievements in the first year of this administration.
Job and Wealth Creation
5. As everyone gathered here today knows, the
big issue in Nigeria today is that of unemployment. It is one issue that sticks
out like a sore thumb in the face of celebrated economic growth indices. Here
in Delta, the level of unemployment, especially among the youth, has reached
very worrisome levels, with all the dire consequences this portends for our
collective safety and security.
6. At the very core of our S.M.A.R.T agenda is
job and wealth creation because we realize that the only way to achieve
sustainable economic growth is to create new jobs, diversify the economy
through the development of non-oil sectors, and provide the enabling
environment for enterprises and industries to thrive. In August 2015, we
launched the Job and Wealth Creation Scheme with the following programmes viz;
Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP), Skills Training and
Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP), and Production and Processing Support
Programme (PPSP).
7. In structure, design and implementation,
these programmes are focused on equipping participants with life skills,
developing their leadership qualities, increasing their personal effectiveness,
harnessing their productive potentials, and enabling them to become
entrepreneurs, managers and leaders. In addition to these specialized job
creation programmes under the Office of the Chief Job Creation Officer,
Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government were mandated to undertake
projects that have inbuilt employment generating capacity.
8. It is my pleasure to announce that as at
April 30, 2016, a total of 17,173 (seventeen thousand, one hundred and seventy
three) private sector jobs were created by this administration. This
figure consists of 6,800 (six thousand, eight hundred) direct jobs and 10,373
(ten thousand, three hundred and seventy three) indirect jobs of both skilled and
unskilled workers. As a Special Purpose Vehicle, the Office of the Chief Job
Creation Officer accounted for 7,522 (seven thousand, five hundred and twenty
two) of these jobs while the remaining 9,651 (nine thousand, six hundred and
fifty one) were created through projects, programmes and initiatives
implemented through the various MDAs. The sectoral breakdown of the job
creation scorecard is contained in the First Year performance Report to be
issued within days of this briefing.
9. As I made clear in my Inaugural Address,
“our vision is to drive an inclusive economic growth policy that works for
all.” Hence, we are constantly retooling our processes to fund the unfunded -
i.e. the poor, women and vulnerable in the society – so that they can prosper from
the global economy. Towards this end, we have restructured and repositioned the
Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency to make it
more responsive towards the needs and aspirations of this category of people.
10. From May 2015 to April 30, 2016, the sum of N546m
(five hundred and forty six million) was disbursed to a total number of 3,110
(three thousand, one hundred and ten persons) within the various micro, small
and medium enterprises. They included 2,052 females representing 66% of the
loan recipients and 1,058 males representing 34%. The ratio is in compliance
with CBN regulations that 60% of micro credit should go to women.
The disbursement cuts across different sectors:
a. Cottage industries-6%
b. Trading – 29%
c. Agriculture – 41%
d. Agro-Processing -16%
e. Services -8%
11. With enhanced funding and strong corporate
governance culture in place, the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises Development Agency is poised for more effective and efficient
service delivery to actualize the administration’s goal of bringing prosperity
to all Deltans.
Infrastructural Development
12. Consistent with our determination to
develop, maintain and renew our infrastructure in line with our growth aspirations,
the first year of this administration has witnessed wide ranging developments
in the construction of roads, markets development and the building of hospitals
and schools. To date, at least 54 road construction/rehabilitation contracts
have been awarded through the State Tenders Board and the Ministerial Tenders
Board. This figure does not include projects executed by the Direct Labour
Agency (DLA).
13. Starting from tomorrow, I shall commence the
commissioning of these projects. Some of the projects scheduled for
commissioning are:
- Ejinyere/Orodje Street in
Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area;
- Jeddo Ughoton Road and Access
Road to Eagles Height University (Phase 1 Jeddo/Omadino Bridge), Okpe local
Government Area;
- Oteri Township Road in Ughelli
North Local Government Area;
- Okere-Urhobo Community Roads in
Warri South Local Government Area (Olomu link Road, 1st and 2nd Olomu
Streets, Otor-Okere and Agba Roads);
- Kefas Road with a spur to Uzere
junction, Oleh, Isoko South Local Government Area;
- Uduophori road (Phase 1),
Patani Local Government Area;
- Orikeze Street with a spur to
Orikeze close, Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area;
- Usonia Road, off Nnebisi Road,
Asaba;
- Faculty of Law Complex, Delta
State University, Oleh Campus, Isoko South Local Government Area;
- Pedriatic Wards/Water Scheme in
Patani General Hospital; and
- Azu-Owa Abavo Cottage Hospital,
Abavo, Ika South Local Government Area
14. Meanwhile, work on Cable Point Road dualization,
Asaba, Okpanam Road Dualization, Asaba, Warri-Sapele Road Dualization in Sapele
from Amukpe Roundabout, the construction of Amekpa-Afiesere-Ufuoma Road in
Ughelli North Local Government Area, Lagos-Asaba Road dualization in Agbor,
constructions of Oza-nogogo-Alisimie Road in Ika South Local Government Area,
and Okerenkoko Beach Road in Warri South West Local Government Area, are
progressing steadily and should be ready for commissioning a few months from
now.
15. It goes without saying that there is need for
continual investment in infrastructure renewal and new constructions that will
engender economic growth, lead to social improvements, and give all communities
equal opportunity to benefit from the economy. The amount of investment
required is huge because the need for infrastructure development is ever
growing and expanding. It requires collaboration with the private sector
and it is gratifying to note that local and international investors are taking
a keen interest in our State.
16. In the next few weeks I shall unveil the Delta
State Medium Term Development Plan (2015-2019) which provides the template for
our growth plans and will, undoubtedly, enhance the ease of doing business in
the State and inspire confidence in prospective investors. Public-Private
Partnership in infrastructure development is critical for our economic growth
because, among other things, it enables innovation in project design and
implementation, creates more value for money because of the due diligence
involved, and ensures professionalism and timeliness in service delivery. We
are determined to pursue our collaboration with the private sector with vigour.
Agriculture
17. From the onset of this administration, we were
determined to diversify the economy and make it more resilient to external
shocks. One major way to achieve this is to develop the agricultural sector of
which Delta State has immense potentials. We have huge landmass suitable for
the cultivation of cash crops, tree crops, livestock farming and aquaculture.
18. In the year under review, we focussed our
attention on stimulating and increasing the yield of our small-holder farmers
through the Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP). The PPSP
is aimed at up scaling the use of modern farm inputs and technologies of
small-holder farmers to increase the yield of crop, livestock and fishery
enterprises. Towards this end, we distributed tractors to 64 Cooperative
Societies. Another set of 106 Cooperative Societies got Mellon Shellers while
18 other Cooperative Societies received Outboard Engines and Fishing Gears
support packages.
19. We also distributed improved variety of cassava
cuttings, fertilizer, and cash to 475 cassava farmers; 100 fishery farmers were
given fingerlings, feeds and cash; 100 poultry farmers were supported with
200-day-old chicks each, feeds and cash; 50 poultry layer farmers got 200
layers each, feeds and cash; 50 piggery farmers received 10 growers, feeds and
cash; while 40 tomatoes farmers were supported with seedlings, agrochemicals
and cash.
20. It is important to point out that there was
equitable distribution of these support packages across the three senatorial
districts. We were also able to avoid the leakages of similar interventions in
the past through accurate targeting made possible by the rigorous screening
process. To ensure the beneficiaries are actual farmers, these inputs were
painstakingly delivered directly to them at their farm sites.
21. It is one thing to increase output. It is quite
another to be able to sell the produce and make profit. To tackle the marketing
challenges faced by our farmers, we have created the Agricultural Marketing
Coordination Committee with membership drawn from the relevant government
institutions/agencies, commodity associations and organised private sector.
The Committee is mandated to:
- identify existing and potential
markets for agricultural produce and devise measures and arrangements for our
farmers to access those markets;
- obtain and disseminate market
information to agricultural producers;
- proffer measures for boosting
market infrastructure; and
- arrange for facilities such as
warehouses, cold storage and aggregation centres.
22. We shall continue to deepen the agricultural
value chain to modernise and grow the agricultural sector for the benefit of
current and future generations of Deltans.
Education
23. The major slippage in our educational sector in
the last two decades or so has been the overemphasis on certificate
acquisition. As a result, we have a generation of secondary school leavers and
university graduates that can only survive on paid employment; worse still,
many of them are actually unemployable. This administration is convinced that
the solution to our current unemployment crisis and youth restiveness is to
focus attention on the acquisition of vocational and technical skills by our
teeming youth population.
24. Upon assumption of office, I sent the Delta State
Vocational and Technical Education Board Bill to the State House of Assembly.
The Bill, meant to provide the regulatory framework to administer and promote
technical education in the State, was passed and signed into law in June 2015.
Since then, we have reconstructed/rehabilitated and equipped
three technical colleges in Ofagbe, Sapele and Agbor.
25. At Agbor Technical College, we undertook the
following:
- Conversion of Catering/Workshop
Block to a Six-Classroom Block with Stores and Toilets;
- Conversion of a Six-Classroom
Block without Stores and Toilets to a standard Classroom Block with Stores and
Toilets;
- Demolition and reconstruction
of Hostel Block;
- Renovation of Six-Classroom
Block with Stores and Toilets;
- Renovation of three-Classroom
Block with Stores and Toilets;
- Demolition of 2Nos dilapidated
Four-Classroom/Workshop Block and construction of 2Nos Prototype
Six-Classroom Block with Stores and Toilet facilities;
- Renovation of Prototype
Building/Block Laying Workshop with Offices;
- Completion of Prototype Steel
Stanchion and Structural roof Workshop Building;
- Construction of a 3-Bedroom
Bungalow for the Principal;
- Completion of Prototype Steel
Stanchion and Structural Roof Workshop -Building(Auto Mechanic and Welding
Fabrication Workshop);
- Improvement of Multi-Purpose
School Hall;
- Demolition and reconstruction
of a Prototype Administrative Block; and
- Construction of Twin 2-Bedroom
Staff Quarters (2No).
26. The awarded Phase II Project which captured
construction of School Fence, Gate/Gate House have also been completed, while
building of Generator House, Erosion Control and construction of the school’s
access roads and drains are all currently work in progress.
27. At Sapele Technical College, we undertook the
following:
- Renovation of principal’s Lodge
(2-Bedroom Duplex Quarters and 18Nos Garages);
- Renovation of staff
room/Computer Centre;
- Renovation/Rehabilitation of
Hostel Block;
- Renovation of Painting and
Decoration Block;
- Renovation of Electrical
Building;
- Expansion/Renovation Of
Generator House;
- Renovation of Electrical
Workshop;
- Renovation of Radio, TV and
Electronics Block;
- Renovation of Toilet Block by
Woodwork and furniture Craft Practice Workshop;
- Renovation of Secretariat
Department Typing Pool;
- Completion of Science
Laboratory;
- Renovation/Alteration works of
Administrative/Principal’s Office Block;
- Renovation of Welding and
Fabrication Classroom;
- Renovation of Mechanical
Engineering Department Classroom Block;
- Renovation/Rehabilitation of
Storey Building Hostel Block;
- Renovation of Kitchen/Dining
Hall;
- Provision of Overhead Water
Tanks;
- Renovation of ICT/Assembly
Hall;
- Renovation of Two-Classroom
Block; and
- Renovation of Three-Classroom
Block.
28. At Ofagbe Technical College, we undertook the
following:
- Renovation of Boys Quarter;
- Renovation of Multi-Purpose
Hall;
- Demolition and Reconstruction of
Administrative Block (Principal’s Office);
- Renovation of Staff Quarters;
- Renovation of
Welding/Fabrication Workshop;
- Renovation of Automobile
Workshop;
- Construction of Dining Hall;
- Construction of Block of
Toilets;
- Renovation of Hostel
Block(Storey Building);
- Renovation of Electrical
Workshop;
- Renovation of Mechanical
Department (Six-Classroom Block);
- Renovation of Library Block;
- Renovation of Science Laboratory/Business
Studies Department; and
- Renovation of Mechanical
Department (Four-Classroom Block)
29. To complement the infrastructural upgrade in our
technical colleges, we have set in motion the process of curriculum review and
enrichment to make them more relevant to the dynamics of the 21st century
marketplace. The three colleges will be commissioned during the course of
the one-year anniversary celebrations. Also to be commissioned is the Law
Faculty Complex of the Delta State University in Oleh, which was completed by
this administration.
Health
30. I promised Deltans upon assumption of
office to pursue legislation that will “support and promote Universal Health
Insurance Policy for all Deltans.” The inauguration of the Delta State
Contributory Health Commission on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, marks the fulfillment
of that promise. With the inauguration of the Commission, Delta became the
first State in the country to have a mandatory health insurance scheme for the
purpose of universal healthcare coverage.
31. The goal of universal health coverage, which the
United Nations has been encouraging all member - countries to adopt, is to
ensure that all people are able to access and get treatment at our
hospitals/clinics without suffering financial hardship at the point of service,
or denied service outright due to lack of funds. When the insurance scheme is
fully operational, it will lead to a more robust healthcare system, improved
quality and more affordable healthcare delivery as well as significantly better
health outcomes.
32. Even more significant to me is that the poor,
women and the vulnerable will no longer have to seek recourse to money lenders
to pay for health services, leading to further impoverishment. To mark our
first anniversary, we will be commissioning the newly-built Azu –Owa Cottage
Hospital in
Abavo, Ika South Local Government Area, and the Children’s
Ward and other facilities at the General Hospital, Patani.
Peace Building
33. Peace and security are integral to the successful
implementation of our S.M.A.R.T agenda. Our strategy is to strengthen, sustain
and create the institutions and structures that enable peaceful co-existence
among diverse ethnic groups and communities. We are committed to seeing that
our cities, towns and communities become places where people feel safe to work,
live and do business.
34. In August, 2015, we inaugurated a 41-member Delta
State Peace Building and Advisory Council comprising men and women of proven
integrity and exemplary character. The Council meets regularly and has been
very active in working to implement policies and programmes to increase public
safety in Delta State.
35. In collaboration with the Council, the State
Government organised a well-attended One-Day Stakeholders Summit on
“Vandalisation of Oil and Gas Facilities” on Wednesday, January 31, 2016, at
the Petroleum Training Institute Conference Centre in Effurun, Warri. In
attendance were representatives of the oil companies, community leaders, labour
leaders, human rights group as well as various youth and grassroots
organisations. While noting that there was need for effective monitoring and
policing of oil and gas installations/facilities because of their strategic
importance to the economy, the Summit also called for attitudinal change among
the populace.
36. It is regrettable that the gains of the Summit
appear to have been eroded by recent events in the Niger Delta region. However,
we remain resolute in our quest put an end to the unfortunate incidence of
pipeline vandalisation/bombings. Currently, an Advocacy Peace Committee headed
by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, has been traversing the length and
breadth of our riverine communities holding talks with traditional rulers,
community and youth leaders on the need for peace in the region. We are
confident of positive outcomes from these interactions.
Conclusion
37. I have shared with you some highlights of
the administration’s scorecard in twelve months. You can obtain further details
from our First Year Performance Report to be published any moment from now. I
want to assure you that this administration shall continuously uphold and
strengthen the values of good governance, honesty, transparency, fiscal
discipline, effective public communication, community engagement and excellence
in service delivery. And despite what you may sometimes read in the news media,
members of this administration remain a united, cohesive force determined to
make Delta State the pacesetter within the Nigerian Federation.
38 Thank you for your time and attention.
39. God bless us all.
40. I now open the floor for questions.
Office of the Governor
Government House
Asaba
May 2016.
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