His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State, on assumption of office on the 29th of May 2015, prioritized the attainment of a better business environment as a key strategy for job and wealth creation and prosperity for all Deltans.
Peace building, conflict prevention and security. The proactive policy action in establishing the Advisory and Peace building Council in August 2015 and Advocacy Committee Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas facilities in May 2016 has provided mechanisms and channels for continual constructive engagement with conflict-prone communities in the state. Also, the proper handling of the ethnic diversity of the state through inclusive, fair and equitable political and economic management has created an atmosphere of trust, mutual respect and sense of belonging to diverse ethnic groups of the state.
Promoting public-private partnership investments. Delta State Investment Development Agency [DIDA] was established in August 2017, with responsibility for facilitating public private partnerships for economic growth. The business environment for private sector project execution has also been boosted by the Delta State Public and Private Property Protection Law, enacted in August 2018. Massive development of roads state-wide. Pursuant to ensuring ease of doing business, His Excellency, the Governor, has from 2015 to date, achieved road construction and rehabilitation totaling 1,932.14 km and drains totaling 1,035.95 km.
EVIDENCE OF THE BETTER BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT – HARVEST OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENTS
Remarkable evidence of better business environment is the harvest of public private partnership investments and projects, identified as follows.
- Concession of Asaba International Airport
- Leisure Park and Film Village
- Agro- Industrial Park, Aboh Ogwashi-Uku
- Norsworthy Farms and Agro-Allied Industries, Akwukwu-Igbo
- Delta State Rest Park, Umunede.
- Automobile Dealers and Mechanics Park, Asaba
- Warri Trailer Park
- Ogbe-Ogonogo Market, Asaba.
- UTM Offshore Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Project, Warri
- Stallion Tricycle Assembly Plant, Along Benin-Asaba Highway, Asaba
- Private-Public Ownership of Songhai Delta Agricultural Complex, Amukpe
- Virtual Gas CNG gas plant, Ebede, Ukwuani LGA.
- DELCOM CO-OP Oil Palm Development Initiative
- Concession of Uvwie Fish Feed Mill to O-Secul Nigeria Ltd.
- Kwale Industrial Park
Governor Okowa, has by his excellent leadership, illustrated how improving the business environment can bring about growth of the private sector and the overall economy. The lesson of Delta State success story is that achieving a better business and investment environment entails a multidimensional policy approach covering social, infrastructural, regulatory and public service improvements. This shining example of good governance should be emulated by other states and replicated at the national level.