Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (left) receiving a copy of an address from the Chairman, Patani Local Government Area. Hon (Mrs) Roseline Abeki during the Governor’s town hall meeting with the people of Patani L. G.A in Patani.
PATANI/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has said individuals should be encouraged to set up agro-based industries to encourage farmers, as he reiterated government’s priority in economic advancement of the state.
The Governor who made these statements in Patani, in Patani Local Governments Area and Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government, on October 21, 2017in continuation of his town hall meetings stated that with the rate Nigerians have gone into farming, it is important for agro-based industries to be established to encourage the farmers to increase their yields through the industries.
He lauded the way Deltans in particular have embraced agriculture, observing that with different successes recorded by beneficiaries of his administration’s empowerment programmes in agriculture; it has become important for agro-based industries to be established.
“If we have small industries in relation to what we produce, it will help us to increase our production, preserve what we have produced and make it more acceptable to the consumers which will boost our socio-economic status as farmers,” the Governor said.
From Left: HRM. Jackson Angalabiri, Egbain ii, Ebenanaowei of Kunbuowei Kingdom; HRM. Barr. Shadrack Erebulu, Aduo iii, Pere of Kabowei Kingdom and HRM. A. C. Owoupele, the Ebedaowei of Tarakiri Kingdom, during Governor Okowa’s town hall meeting with the people of Patani L. G.A in Patani.
He emphasized, “as a government, we will encourage individuals to set up agro-based industries in areas we have economics of scale.”
The Governor who commended the commitment of farmers to make Delta State the food basket of the nation, urged the farmers to organise themselves into cooperative societies to enable them benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sponsored Anchor-borrowers programme.
He disclosed that Deltans did not benefit much from the programme because of low awareness, and called on the farmers to also, liaise with relevant agencies to ensure that they benefit from the programme and used the occasion to inform the people that the free child and maternal healthcare programme of his administration is on course.
“We have free maternal and healthcare programme for children under five, we have also launched Contributory Health Insurance Scheme that will capture all Deltans, the health of Deltans is of great concern to my administration and with the insurance scheme, there will be affordable and quality health care for our people,” the Governor said.
Answering questions as it concerns clock-in and clock-out biometric exercise for local government councils’ workers, the Governor said, it was not a punitive measure but to ensure that only those are paid salaries are true workers.
“It is not a punishment, it is not going to be forever but, if it is effective for three months, we will be able to identify true civil servants because, it will be difficult for you to work elsewhere and also, work in the civil service,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the local government council, Mrs Josephine Abeki had in an address, said, “your (Governor Okowa’s) SMART Agenda which is putting smiles on the faces of the good people of Delta State is clearly seen by all in the various appointments and empowerment of indigenes from the local government area in your (Governor Okowa’s) government.”
Economic Advancement of Deltans Is Our Priority
The governor has said construction of intra-city and inter-communal roads would enhance the socio-economic life of the people.
Addressing the people of Ndokwa West Local Government Area in Kwale Governor Okowa said, his urban renewal programme has made it such that a lot of intra-city roads are being constructed.
According to him, “we have noticed that there is a lot to do to renew our cities and towns, a lot of roads are calling for attention, while we have done a lot in that direction, we have earmarked the internal roads in Ndemili for construction, we will also look at the Ndemili/Utagba-Uno Road, construction work is on at Ezionum/Abbi road; with time, the Kwale/Ashaka Road will be dualised, we will continue to work for our people.”
From Right: Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; member representing Ndokwa federal constituency, Rt Hon Nicholas Ossai; member representing Ndokwa West in the State House of Assembly, Hon Azuka Azaka and the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Mr Erness Oguwezzi, during the Governor’s town hall meeting the people of Ndokwa West LGA.
“I thank the people of Ndokwa West for their peaceful approach to issues, we are aware of the oil companies operating in your area, we encourage you to remain peaceful because, without peace, no project will be executed,” he said, adding, “with the phase II of the IPP project, there will be constant electricity in Ndokwa West and industries will grow.”
The Governor commended the people of Ndokwa West for following closely with the programmes of his administration, assuring that the Ministry of Health will look at how to make the Cottage Hospital at Ndemili and Ugiliamai functional.
Earlier in an address, the President-General of Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Chief Johnson Opone listed the achievements of Governor Okowa’s administration and called on the Governor to properly equip the Kwale Central Hospital, Ndemili and Ugiliamai Cottage Hospitals as they are vital to meet the health need of the people at the grassroots.
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (right), being welcomed by HRMs, Obuenwe, the Ezemu of Emu Kingdom (middle) and the Oduosa of Utagba-Ugbe Kingdom, on the arrival to attend a town hall meeting at Kwale, head quarters of Ndokwa West.
He listed several roads that should be constructed by the government in the area, saying the less than 5 kilometre Ugiliamai/Ossissa road which links Ndokwa West and East Local Government Areas, the Utagba-Uno/Ogume/Igbe/Obodeti Road, and a host of others.
Chairman of the local government council, Hon. Chris Osakwe had in an address of welcome, said, Governor Okowa’s administration has done a lot in the area of Road construction, construction of blocks of classrooms, empowering the people with different skills and carried out other developmental projects in the area, assuring that the people of the local government will remain grateful to the Governor.
