PHOTO: BRIPIN ENARUSAI
By Mokobia Rita
ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Government has approved a ₦4 billion social intervention programme targeting 15,000 indigent residents, alongside measures to attract agricultural investors, improve healthcare access in riverine communities and strengthen civil servants’ welfare.
The decisions were announced by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, after a State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at Government House, Asaba. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, accompanied the commissioner during the briefing.
Aniagwu said the empowerment programme would be implemented through the Delta State Social Investment Programme in the coming weeks, with beneficiaries selected from the state’s 25 local government areas.
He explained that the initiative was designed to support residents struggling with economic hardship, particularly those operating small businesses, aspiring entrepreneurs seeking capital to establish micro-enterprises and vulnerable people in need of financial assistance.
According to the commissioner, the governor has directed that clear eligibility requirements be established to guide the selection process and ensure that the intervention reaches its intended beneficiaries.
The government expects the scheme to help existing businesses sustain their operations, give prospective entrepreneurs an opportunity to start small enterprises and improve the financial circumstances of vulnerable households.
Aniagwu said the programme formed part of the administration’s effort to make economic interventions more beneficial to ordinary residents.
Details of the application process, verification arrangements and commencement of disbursement were not provided in the announcement. Prospective beneficiaries will therefore need to await official guidance on eligibility and registration.
In a separate decision, the Executive Council approved compensation relating to land acquired in Delta Central Senatorial District for agricultural purposes, as the government seeks to attract investment into commercial farming.
Aniagwu said discussions at previous economic summits had identified access to land for large-scale agriculture as an important requirement for expanding production and attracting investors.
He explained that the state was working towards creating conditions that would encourage commercial farmers from within Nigeria and abroad to establish operations in Delta, while enabling existing local farmers to expand their businesses.
The government expects the agricultural initiative to support food production, generate employment and create additional economic opportunities. Its eventual impact will depend on how the land arrangements are implemented and the level of investment they attract.
The council also approved three policy documents to guide preparation of the state’s 2027 budget: the Economic and Fiscal Updates, Fiscal Strategy Paper and Budget Policy Paper.
Aniagwu said the documents would provide the economic assumptions, revenue forecasts and policy framework needed to prepare the next fiscal plan.
He noted that greater stability in the naira could improve budget planning, while warning that changes in international crude oil prices could affect the state’s expected revenue from the Federation Account.
The fiscal documents are expected to help the government assess available resources and establish priorities for the coming financial year amid uncertainties in the economic outlook.
Healthcare access in riverine communities also featured in the council’s deliberations, with the Ministry of Health directed to explore extending free medical outreach services to more communities.
The directive followed a recent medical exercise in areas affected by oil spillage. The outreach was organised after Oborevwori visited the affected communities and directed that residents receive medical assistance.
According to Aniagwu, the exercise attracted encouraging participation, including residents from neighbouring areas who travelled to access the services after hearing about the programme.
He said the governor had consequently asked the ministry to consider conducting the outreaches more regularly, particularly in riverine areas where access to healthcare can be difficult.
The council also approved the construction of a clubhouse for civil servants at the State Secretariat in Asaba.
Aniagwu said the proposed facility would provide workers with a place to meet, socialise and relax outside official working hours, describing the project as part of the administration’s efforts to improve staff welfare.
Taken together, the decisions cover household support, agricultural investment, fiscal planning, healthcare and public service welfare. Their significance will ultimately depend on the timely implementation of the approved measures and the benefits they deliver to residents across Delta State.
