What’s The Action Plan: Agberen Laments Lack Of Industries, Poorly Initiated Empowerment Schemes, Others In Delta

By Daniel Dafe

Comr. (Amb) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, National Coordinator,
Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancement (ISRCA) AKA “No Justice, No Peace” has said that over the years, the Delta State Government for reasons best known, decided not to build industries or attract any companies in the region, which would create employment opportunities that will drastically reduce crime, especially since the crisis in Warri between 1997 and 2003.

He made the remarks in a statement on Wednesday.

According to him, “these issues have continuously confronted the progress of the State and yet we act like it’s cool?”

Adding: “We cannot continue to recycle this kind of leadership that has continued to actuate agony and retrogression.

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“It is unfortunate that the Delta State Governor has only recently acknowledged the need for reconstruction of the Warri City Stadium. Notably, the government has made significant progress, leading to the award of a contract for the comprehensive reconstruction of the Warri Township Stadium, which frequently floods due to inadequate drainage.”

Meanwhile, he opined that “over the past 24 years, the PDP administration in Delta State failed to effectively utilize the state’s seaport or revive its state-owned industries.”

“Moreover, it took Governor Ifeanyi A. Okowa eight years to address the flooding and drainage issues in Warri, Uvwie axis’s which had rendered road construction efforts futile until recent improvements by Gov. Sherrif led administration,” he said.

He continued: “With the taste of her dear Governor on service delivery with reference to the ongoing construction of the flyover overhead bridges and roads in areas of the State, where it was contracted to Julius Berger Nig. Ld, the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori led administration should also shift interest to industrial developments or at least revamp any state owned factories. The politics of Delta State should be as important as the people it governs, which is the cardinal responsibility of any government.

“Outside being major exporter of petroleum, Delta State produces 75 percent of Nigeria’s petroleum, which represents over 50 percent of national government revenues. With River State having similar contributions, Delta State cannot equal the balance of industrious activities with that of River State. With the funds Delta State Government generate through personal income taxes and other levies – known as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Delta State: it should be tools, not just for infrastructural development alone but for industrial purposes too.

“There is no denying the fact that the cost of running governance by state governments in Nigeria is skyrocketing on daily basis; hence the need for state governments to seek ways of generating funds; especially to enhance industrial activities. Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) are the power needed to strengthen the elbow of our contemporary societies; it is the gear that accelerates the speed of societal development that is free from crimes.

“The significance of industrial labour cannot be overstated as it plays central role in the growth of the economy of a place directly as the most important input into production. Moreover, for development to be impactful, it must facilitate the participation of all individuals, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, political, and social affiliations, in the income generation process through remunerative employment and substantial engagements. As a government, there’s urgent need to think deep about our State and see how stagnant or even retrogressive we’ve been in the past 20 years. It also astounds me how the youths are so comfortable with the depressive events that unfold around them. Shockingly, pains have become normal to us.”

Furthermore, he said: “In summary, Delta State Government should rise up to its obligations where its politics must be centered on the people and not solely be principally driven by the vision of self-enrichment and the near-total neglect of the vast majority of Deltans like it were. We’ve been very unfortunate to have had government in the state for the past years, which the indicators of bad governance and poor policy implementations are staring at us all: from the embarrassingly horrible level of unemployment to poorly empowerment schemes.

“While I also extend my congratulations to you, His excellency, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, on your recent award as Best Governor 2024 by ThisDay and Arise TV and also with Telegraph Newspaper, in recognition of your exemplary infrastructure development initiatives, there is also an urgent need to redirect attention to other critical areas within the State that will directly benefit the populace. Undoubtedly, establishing industries should be one of the key focuses, not just constructing roads and bridges.

Also, he urged the Delta State Government-led administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to engage all possible means to provide a conducive economic environment for the private sectors to flourish, which would create more quality jobs for the indigenous people of Delta State.

He said that in a place where these challenges are glaring and unattended, it cannot survive being consumptive with no level of productivity. Unarguably, the State capacity is low, service delivery is limited, and insecurity and violence are widespread, which also threatens to peace and progress of her State.