By Babajide Komolafe
Delta State has commenced discussions with the Bankers Committee on financing of infrastructure projects in the states.

Since its 296th meeting when banks made commitment  to support bankable projects of state governments and the real sector, the Committee has been holding interactive session with state governments across the country.

Recently, the Committee met with the Delta State Government for assessment of its infrastructural need and possibility of providing funding support for the execution of identified projects.

At the session held in Lagos recently, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of the state listed the new International airport being constructed in Asaba, the proposed 329 hectares Warri Industrial and Business Park under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement and the Koko Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) as developmental initiatives that would attract investors to the state and facilitate economic development of the state.

He said the state has developed a model for agriculture with focus on: Produce-aquaculture, poultry and oil palm production, preservation, storage and processing as well as export and market development. He stated that the proposed agriculture processing complex to be set up at a cost of about N2.2 billion under the commercial agriculture and credit scheme will consist of three plants for processing cassava, cat-fish and broilers.

Further in his presentation, Uduaghan said the state has also embarked on climate change initiatives to ensure a pollution free environment, adding that Delta State is a member of the R-20: a group of 20 sub-national governments across the world involved in a comprehensive programme on climate change. The R-20 includes the state of California in the US.

Uduaghan promises end to gas flaring

On environmental management initiative, the former Governor said the state has had engagements with the multinational oil companies to stop gas flaring, adding that Chevron has made a commitment to stop flaring for the next 15 months starting from December 2009 and that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is currently being engaged on the same issue.

He told the Bankers’ Committee that Delta State has become a safe and secured haven to invest in within the larger Niger Delta region, offering great promise for investors, and enjoined the banks to identify projects for investment in the state.

… admits dependance on oil

In his keynote address, he admitted that Delta State economy is largely dependent on oil and gas, which contributes about 73 per cent of the state’s GDP but noted that the state is making effort to diversify its economy with focus on farming, fishing and trading and specific interest in climate change initiatives.

While expressing his appreciation to the Bankers Committee, the former governor noted that the commitment of the CBN to assist the state in financing infrastructure projects through public-private partnership and reduce dependent on excess crude aligns with the current focus of the state.

He added that the state’s development strategy is centred on the three-point agenda: Peace and security, human capital development and infrastructure development.

He said key achievements had been recorded in the area of peace and security which is pivotal to the achievements of human capital and infrastructure development. The  former Governor said the Delta State Waterways Security Committee (DWSC) was set up to assist the state government in intelligence gathering, resolution of contentious issues and alerting on flash points before they got out of hand.

Buttressing his point, he said the Delta State Oil producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) has assisted in promoting peace and security in the creeks, remarking that the commission gets 50 per cent of the monthly 13 per cent derivation fund due to the state.

This, he said, was achieved through regular engagement and interaction with traditional rulers, chiefs, youth leaders, market women and security agencies on peace-keeping at the state Security Council meetings and town hall meetings.