ABUJA/Nigeria: The Chairman, Delta State Investments Development Agency (DIDA), Ogbueshi Afam Obiago has canvassed for Governor Okowa’s SMART agenda policy as a paradigm shift from oil in Delta State.
Ogbueshi Obiago made this known when he led the Board and top management staff of the Agency on a study tour of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) Abuja.
According to the Chairman, NEPC is passionate about a zero oil economy which is in consonance with the yearnings of Governor Okowa’s diversification drive of Delta State economy.
“DIDA exists to promote and facilitate investments in the State in tandem with the agencies that impact on investments. We are here to know what the NEPC is doing, their mandate and the incentives they offer and so we can know how to grow ours at DIDA” Ogbueshi Obiago stated.
The Director General of DIDA, Olorogun Lucky Oghene Omoru in his contribution said that Delta State had selected Palm Oil as its major non-oil exportable product in line with the Federal Government’s ‘one state one product policy’, saying that the State has capacity to develop other products for export like rubber, cassava, vegetables, melon and solid minerals, even as he solicited for technical support from the NEPC in this regard.
Earlier the Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer, NEPC, Mr Segun Awolowo with his top management staff while receiving the DIDA team expressed delight at the foresight of DIDA in embarking on a study tour to the NEPC, saying that it was it was indeed novel.
Mr Awolowo however, bemoaned the fact that there was a big deficit in palm oil production in Nigeria and said “We therefore clamoured that States like Delta should revamp this sector in order to meet our projected target of US$1.8 billion in export volume and value.”
According to him Delta beyond oil and the Federal Government Zero oil policy should be judiciously pursued to the later. “DIDA should do everything to make itself responsive to the 21st century.
On the issue of collaboration with NEPC, Mr Awolowo said that Delta State is an active Member of the National Council on Exports and is therefore abreast of export related issues.
He advised DIDA to encourage Deltans to invest in their State and take advantage of the existing investment incentives like, tax holidays.
The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investments and Promotions, Mr. Paul Nmah, DIDA Board Members and Management Staff expressed delight at the collaboration between DIDA and NEPC.
