Keynote address by His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State , on the inauguration of Delta State Vision 2020 Council and 2020 Steering Committee, on Tuesday 15 July, 2008, at Grand Hotel, Asaba.

 

I welcome you all to this great occasion - the inauguration of the Delta State Vision 2020 Council and Steering Committee.  When the President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua launched Vision 2020, aimed at positioning Nigeria among the 20 top economies in the world by Year 2020, it was described as an ambitious plan. I agree. But I also think it is a plan with seeds of immense opportunities, which is within our grasp.

 

2.   Year 2020 is just twelve years from now and is actually a medium-term plan when compared with our vision of a 50-year economic and social master plan for Delta State. Planning for Delta State to tap into this national programme must be fast-tracked, focused, visionary and above all, relevant to the needs of our people.

 

3.  In a fast-paced, globalised, post-industrial world, the challenge to catch-up is very daunting. We are confronted by gigantic undertaking of how to surmount our basic infrastructure gap, of poverty crisis, the human capital deficit and value reorientation. But the job must be done. For the faint hearted, it may seem an improbable dream to hope for a better future with such huge odds. However, for us here in Delta State, the visioning process calls for leadership.

 

4.  The importance of the work of the Council and Committee centres on our determination to harness the enormous opportunities of the global economy for Delta State. We are anxious to leap from our third world status to a first world State. It is also our desire to build a peaceful and progressive society, where every Deltan will feel a sense of shared destiny and brotherhood.

5.     In this connection, we have anchored the programmes of this administration on the three-point agenda of Peace and Security, Infrastructure and Human Capital Development. We have shown character in the pursuit of our programmes. We are aware of the need for peace and security to make any progress in life.  Also, economic and social activities cannot thrive in the absence of infrastructure while skilled human capital is indispensable, especially in today's technology-driven world. Our concentration in these areas has borne obvious positive results for the foundation of the future of Delta Sate.

 

6.  To illustrate: We have created a sense of unity and solidarity in the State by even-handed appointments and allocation of political offices and projects, thus removing any fear of alienation and injustice. We have returned stability to the creeks through the Delta State Waterways Security Committee and this has made our waterways more secure and oil businesses that previously felt threatened by the volatility in our State, have returned. We have established an intervention agency for the oil producing communities, the Delta State Oil Producing Development Commission (DESOPADEC). Their work is yielding fruits. Communities previously estranged now feel government's presence and a sense both of renewal and belonging.

 

7.   Our infrastructure strategy has crystallized in a more specific manner and I wish to share some insights with you. As you may be aware, we are building a new international passenger and cargo airport in Asaba, the State capital, to take advantage of the growing business opportunities within the State and across the Niger, especially within the Onitsha and Nnewi business axis. In this axis, is located perhaps, the largest market in Africa, and our advantageous geographical location offers us enormous opportunities to be the ports of choice for businesses in these areas.

 

8.  The Asaba international airport with secondary structures like high capacity ware houses and Asaba International Market is one loop; the second is the five Delta ports at Warri, Koko, Burutu, Sapele and Aladja. Fortunately, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) is about awarding contracts for the dredging of the Escravos bar, to make it possible for deep vessels to enter Warri port. On our part, we have taken steps to reawaken public interest in the utilisation of Delta ports. We have held talks with the leadership of the business communities from Onitsha and Nnewi. They are very enthusiastic to use Delta ports to service their maritime needs and are encouraged that we are already taking steps to remove the impediments, which have hindered them in the past.

 

9.   Underpinning our strategy in this regard is to save time and ensure quicker access to the markets, hence our plan to dualise the 160-kilometre Ughelli-Asaba federal road at State government's cost.

 

10.  It would reduce time for movement of goods and services from Warri port to Onitsha to just three hours. This expansion complements the Warri-Ughelli dual carriage way being built by the Federal Government as part of the East-West Road.

 

11.  Furthermore, the State Government will soon be granted license for the Koko Export Free Zone, and we have awarded the contract to dualise the  Koko-Ugbenu road, which means on completion, Delta State would be virtually ringed by dual carriage ways from the west end to the south end of the State.  What are the opportunities inherent in building these infrastructures?  Simple. From the seaports or the airports, you are guaranteed a quick turn around time in your business activities.  

 

12.    The energy crisis in the country is a great concern to all and the State government is addressing this shortfall on two fronts. One is by our active collaboration with the Federal Government on its Power Emergency Programme. We have been promised some leeway when this programme comes on stream. The other is through the State's Independent Power Plants (IPP). We have developed a business model for Delta State and it is our intention to build, in partnership with private investors, small IPP plants in Delta North to service Asaba and its environs and another in Warri to service the South and Central parts of the State.

 

13.   Additionally, we have developed our own Gas Master Plan, aligned to the Gas Master Plan of the Federal Government, which will act as a catalyst for the overall development and industrialization of the State. Ours will entail the construction of about 1,112-Kilometre gas transmission pipelines, taking advantage of the gas platforms and pipelines that criss-cross the State. We propose to be active in the gas sector and feedbacks from investors in both local and international road shows, have been very encouraging.

 

14. Although some progress has been made, this administration wants to build an economy away from the vagaries of the oil industry. It is a major part of the arduous task before this Council and Committee. Oil is an exhaustible resource. Its damages to the environment and the neglect of other sectors it has created, are sources of concern for this government. I have in this respect, begun the campaign of shifting emphasis away from oil to other sectors of our economy.

 

15.   Can we not do more in agriculture? What about the many solid minerals in Delta State? Have we tapped the tourism potentials of the State? What do we do with the rich cultures of our people? How can we produce highly skilled people to reinvent Delta State?  Why are we unable to develop industries to service the oil sector, while the oil lasts? Have we explored the vast opportunities of our creeks, rivers, seas and seaports?

 

16.    Answers to these posers have to be uncommon for our vision to meet the challenges ahead. For me, the challenge is to return our people to an economy without oil, to the natural resources that abound in Delta State and the use of their skills for meaningful economic engagements.

 

17.    Development plans like the Vision 2020 were in place in 1945-1956, 1951-1955, and 1955-1962.  These plans, in addition to the rolling plans, SEEDS and annual budgets, had their impact, but it was not enough to adequately uplift the living standard of our people.

 

18.   I am tempted to guess why these plans had partial successes. However, I will leave that assignment to the Council and Committee, which have to ensure they give us a report that is implementable, relevant, and infused with a focus on the direction of the global economy. Delta State wants to be relevant in the world economy.

 

19.     As we build airports in Asaba and Warri, create a 27-kilometre deep seaport, plan new road networks and railways, improve security, make the waterways safer, invest in agriculture, power supply, skilled manpower and ease the procedures for doing business with government, our eyes are set on making Delta State famous for being business friendly.

 

20.   More importantly, all these are meant to create huge economic bases that will provide vast resources to engage our people, help our youth realise their potentials and liberate everyone from undue attention given to oil.

 

21.  I must praise the past administrations of this State. They laid the foundation on which the State has stood for almost seventeen years, only nine of which have been spent within a democratic environment.

 

22.  We are desirous of exploring the opportunities that democracy affords our people to express themselves. The eminent men and women in the Council and Committee are only some of the great brains in this State. I am therefore inviting all Deltans to send their views on the economic future of the State to the Council and Committee.

 

23.  A major assignment before the Council and Committee is to explore, identify and trap innovative sources of funding for the Vision 2020 blue print. Any funding plan based on our dwindling oil revenue is flawed. On this note, let me briefly enumerate the terms of reference for the Council and Committee.

 

24.   The State Vision Council, as the apex organ, will have the following terms of reference:

 

(i)                            Provide leadership and support for the visioning process;

 

(ii)                         Consider and approve the recommendations of the Steering Committee with respect to the vision statement, goals, targets, priorities, strategies and programmes;             

 

(iii)                      Review progress of work and give necessary directives;

 

(iv)                      Approve the Vision Document and modalities for its implementation.

 

25. The State Steering Committee, which shall be the engine room of the visioning process, would have responsibility for the following:

 

(i)                         Develop the Vision Statement and its elements;

 

(ii)                      Propose appropriate goals, targets and strategies for achieving the socio-economic objectives;

 

(iii)                   Guide and assist the technical sub-committee to develop their own components of Delta State Vision 2020 in accordance with the guidelines and priorities approved by the Delta State Vision 2020 Steering Committee;

 

(iv)                   Develop and implement strategy for obtaining    

                   inputs from stakeholders;

 

 

(v)                      Arrange state-wide dissemination of information to pave way for the widest participation and buy-in by stakeholders;

 

(vi)                   Undertake comparative studies of best practices in the area of long term planning and visioning process;

 

(vii)                Determine research studies needed to generate data for the preparation of the Vision;

 

(viii)             Develop a result-oriented communication strategy that will mobilize stakeholders to action and also regularly monitor annual progress  towards the attainment of the Vision;

 

(ix)      Liaise with Federal and State counterparts on

            the preparation of the Vision;

 

(ix)                   Prepare and deliver to the Council, the draft

            Vision Document.

26.   Let me therefore use this opportunity to once more call on Deltans across the nation and indeed, the whole world,  to join hands in our march to build the Delta State of our collective vision.  The trumpets of duty call on us all.  Let us forge a grand unity of purpose and the strength to confront the problems facing us.  On our part, we are determined to make a major difference.

 

27.   Our people have very high expectations from members of the Council and the Steering Committee, I sincerely believe you will all uphold their trust and confidence in your abilities. It is my honour and privilege, therefore, to inaugurate the Delta State Vision 2020 Council and Steering Committee.

 

28.   I thank you for accepting to serve.  May God bless you all.

 

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

ASABA.

15th JULY, 2008.

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