By Sufuyan Ojeifo<\/p>\n
The effort being made all over the world by governments and multinational
\ncorporations to end the dominance of oil as the main source of energy is a
\nwake-up call to states whose economies largely depend on oil. While
\ncountries, like Nigeria, have done little to prepare for the end of the
\noil era, one of its states, Delta, has given full expression to what a
\nproactive response should be. Since the inception of his administration
\nin May 2007, the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, has made it a
\npolicy to develop and sustain the state\u2019s economy beyond oil.<\/p>\n
As the global search for shale gas and other forms of energy intensifies,
\nglobal demand for crude, as we know it, keeps dropping. The effects on our
\neconomies\u2013at macro and micro levels\u2014are expected to be negative. It is on
\nthis premise that Uduaghan\u2019s drive to grow Delta state\u2019s economy, in a way
\nthat there will be minimal disruption to its revenue sources when oil
\nfinishes or loses its global relevance, can be fully appreciated.<\/p>\n
Bearing these in mind, the transformation agenda he articulated focuses on
\ngetting the most from oil now as the state transforms to a post-oil era
\nwhich must come. The second leg of the agenda is to develop other sources
\nof revenue and diversify the state\u2019s economy either by creating favourable
\noptions or by optimising available ones.<\/p>\n
Critics who saw the policy as mere sloganeering, had a field day when it
\nwas unfolded. To them it was inconceivable turning the state, one of the
\nhighest oil producers in Nigeria, away from relying on one natural
\nresource they had in abundance. The mere talk that the natural resource
\nwas finite, with the period approaching when the wells would dry up, was
\nlike idle talk. Today, thanks to Uduaghan\u2019s clear vision and the tenacity
\nthat propelled it, the idea is increasingly catching on across the Niger
\nDelta and at the national level.<\/p>\n
As a policy, \u2018Delta beyond Oil\u2019 was conceived out of the need to save the
\nstate from over dependence on oil money, with the main objective of
\nensuring that the state\u2019s economy was resuscitated and a conducive
\nenvironment put in place for investments to thrive. This will naturally
\nprovide employment for the state\u2019s teeming population, mainly in the areas
\nof agriculture, cultural tourism and solid minerals. Nearly seven years
\ndown the road, the question must be asked: how has the transformation
\nfared, so far?<\/p>\n
Since the vision \u2018Delta beyond Oil\u2019 is conceived as a 50-year policy, it
\nwill be unrealistic to expect much impact from it now, but it will suffice
\nto say that the indices on the ground are already pointing upwards. Many,
\nwho have visited or evaluated the economic components that will drive the
\nemerging economy of Delta state, will attest to the fact that the scenario
\nholds much promise. The governor, who has pursued the agenda with great
\nzeal, has not only been receiving accolades for the vision, the policy
\nhas, also, in itself started yielding expected outcomes.<\/p>\n
In building a Delta that will prosper beyond oil, Uduaghan reckoned with
\nthe need for certain critical infrastructure-both human and physical-that
\nwill support diversification of the economy. Among the physical
\ninfrastructure he embarked upon that are in different stages of
\nrealisation are the Oghareki power plant, the Asaba International Airport,
\nupgrade of Osubi Airport to international standards and the establishment
\nof industrial clusters like the Koko Industrial Park, the Warri Industrial
\nand Business Park as well as the Asaba ICT Park. His administration has
\nalso substantially harnessed the people\u2019s entrepreneurial skills through
\nthe highly successful Micro Credit Scheme. Not only has this scheme
\nnurtured small and medium enterprises with over 100,000 beneficiaries, it
\nhas also won for Uduaghan\u2019s government, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
\nawards, three times consecutively.<\/p>\n
Delta\u2019s difficult terrain has not deterred the administration in its
\npursuit of building physical infrastructure. With a land area of 18,050
\nsquare kilometres, substantial portions of which are riverine, marshy and
\nunderdeveloped, the Delta landscape is, indeed, challenging, but not
\nimpossible with enormous investment in money, energy and time. The
\nadministration\u2019s determination to change the landscape of the riverine and
\noil producing areas is, perhaps, the singular reason the State has kept
\nfaith in heavily funding the development agency for that purpose-the Delta
\nState Oil Mineral Development Commission (DESOPADEC) with a whopping 50
\nper cent of the 13 per cent derivation it receives from the federal
\ngovernment. It may yet be the only state with this level of commitment.<\/p>\n
Its investment in massive infrastructure renewal has resulted in the
\ndualisation of major roads that include the 148 km Asaba-Ughelli road, the
\n33 km Ugbenu-Koko road, the Effurun-Osubi-Eku road, the 7.2 km Ughelli
\nArtery, the PTI\/Jakpa road and the Old Lagos\/Asaba road, among others.
\nThese have helped to aid movement of personnel and goods as well as create
\nmajor network grids to link all the nooks and crannies of the State. New
\npublic schools and health-care facilities are being constructed or
\nupgraded, but equally significantly is the progress of Oghara Teaching
\nHospital as a centre of excellence. So far, about eighteen thousand
\nclassrooms, according to credible reports, have been built, renovated or
\nupgraded while the Oghara Teaching Hospital recently accomplished the feat
\nof a first kidney transplant.<\/p>\n
To fully harness the economic potentials of the state, agriculture and
\nagro-allied industries have received more than a passing attention, while
\nthe state has enhanced rural industrialisation and revived manufacturing.
\nIt has, as learnt, also partnered big private investors in co-funding
\nprojects such as the multi-billion Naira OFN\/Delta Farms and the N40
\nbillion Delta Leisure Park, which on completion will make Delta state the
\ntourist destination of choice.<\/p>\n
However, easily the most profound outcome from the policy is the
\nredirection of the youth who are growing up in expectation of an easy life
\nfrom oil. Though oil has brought so much wealth to the multinational oil
\ncompanies and the Nigerian State whose economy functions on 85% earnings
\nfrom crude sales, it has over time become like nemesis for many Niger
\nDeltans who are fixated on the low-hanging fruits: oil money. This
\nattitude is gradually changing as the policy has succeeded in orientating
\nthem towards hard work.<\/p>\n
Surely, the vision to build a Delta beyond oil is a daunting one, but it
\nhas become imperative considering the imminent decline in relevance of
\ncrude oil due to exhaustion. From all these, the picture of Delta State
\nthat is emerging is one that gives hope for the future and belief in the
\ndrive towards a new economy. Among Deltans, there is a near unanimity of
\nopinions on what the priorities should be. Hopefully, by the time
\nUduaghan completes his present tour of duty, his vision and abiding
\nconcern for the future would have firmly taken root in reshaping Delta\u2019s
\neconomy.<\/p>\n
Mr Ojeifo, journalist and publisher, sent this piece from Abuja via
\nojwonderngr@yahoo.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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