By EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN
IN the last few years, Delta State government began an economic transformation programme. A transformation that demanded we completely remodel how we develop our state from the old ways to a new one, to guarantee our prosperity and survival. Which we tagged “Delta Beyond Oil.”

As a state of over four million people and largely oil-producing, we account for about 3.0 percent of the national population and about 30 percent of national oil production and export. Oil and gas account for 65 percent of our GDP and 85 percent of our revenue from federal allocation.

Sadly, one major drawback of depending on oil is that we were not able to develop our non-oil sector in agriculture, solid minerals and tourism. As a government, we were determined to change that. As a government we knew we must diversify our economy from its dependency on mono-culture source to other sources that are more empowering, that are more sustainable and can create wealth for our people.

The major outline of this goal is to build key infrastructure in the areas of power, transportation (including airports and sea ports) and industrialisation anchored on our Special Economic Zones. In pursuit of this vision, we have struggled with enormous challenges. But we have remained focused.

To a great degree we sought strategic partnership with the private sector under our Public Private Partnership, PPP, model. I like to state that we have made reasonable progress in that regard. Private sector interest in building the Warri Industrial Business Park is strong.

The Koko Export Free Zone, a gas based industrial park—a major component of President Jonathan’s Gas Revolution Agenda—has a robust private sector interest in driving it. We also have a solid private sector investment in agriculture in our collaboration with Obasanjo Farms in the Delta State OFN project and in tourism with the on-going construction of the Delta Leisure Park at Oleri near Warri and the zoo at Ogwashi-Uku. So far the PPP model has served us well and we are determined to continue and are open to further engagements with the private sector.

In addition, most of the waterfront areas at Warri, Koko, Burutu and Oghara have virtually been taken up by private investors and are at various stages of establishing their industries, especially oil and gas based industries.

Today, at the exhibition stand we shall be unveiling our One-Stop-Shop for investors. This is being established to minimise the difficulties faced by investors.

Let me explain that we did not solely focus on these mega projects alone – even if a large chunk of funding had gone into it – rather our strategic funding included what you might term the low hanging fruit as an immediate impact programme to support our people whilst the long term programme matures.

The immediate thrust of this programme is a liberal social and human capacity programmes, in public transportation, healthcare and education, with huge investment in physical infrastructure – a typical model of our public primary school is right opposite the venue of this event.

Additionally, our economic empowerment programme is one of our outstanding accomplishments as a government. With three consecutive CBN awards in recognition of our success in supporting micro and small businesses, which has nearly 100,000 beneficiaries – wealth creation is a policy we apply with seriousness. The results have justified our efforts.

There is no doubt that sometimes we are faced with security challenges. Working with the Federal Government, we are overcoming these challenges. Something we have done however is to sit with any willing investor to draw up a security master plan, including economic and social engagement of the communities, as part of the overall planning for investment.

One shining example that has stood out as a remarkable success story in Delta State is the over $5.9 billion Chevron EGTL project that will be commissioned soon. This project thrived at a time of uncertainty when some investors would rather not venture into the state. Today, its successful conclusion is a study in perseverance. I want to declare that Delta State is a committed partner to any serious investor.

On the whole, I want to say in Delta State and across the South-South zone we share a common aspiration for our peoples.

Three years ago, when we as governors of the South-South states came together, we were driven by the compelling need to create a platform that is mutually representative of the six South-South states for the integration and exploitation of the great potential of the BRACED states in particular, and Nigeria in general.

In this short period, our meeting of minds at the South-South Economic Summit has mid-wifed the BRACED Commission. The BRACED Commission offers an opportunity not only for the economic development of South-South states but also for peer review mechanism. We recognise that all our states are not endowed in equal proportion. Some states have comparative advantage in their resource endowment.

We believe, therefore, that in pulling together, each state will leverage on areas of its core competence and optimise same for the benefit of every one of us.

During the course of this summit we shall have the opportunity to visit the exhibition pavilion where is showcased the enormous economic opportunities of the BRACED states.