By Monday Uwagwu
After the celestial firmament thrilled planet Earth to its colorful display of an extremely rare planetary parade at the weekend, beginning on Saturday, January 25, 2025, a great event also unfolded somewhere in Lagos, the former administrative seat of the Nigerian state. That event, held on Monday, January 27, 2925, was the conferment of the award of the Governor of the Fiscal Year 2024 on the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Evidently, the event was the cynosure of the eye of the Nigerian public on Monday as it drew a galactic ensemble of dignitaries from across the diverse Nigerian geographic spatiality.
Clearly, the Monday event was significant, if not historic, for several reasons. In the first place, it held, as I said in the preceding paragraph, shortly after a weekend during which God and Mother Nature displayed the best in their rich bouquet of celestial entities- the very rare planetary parade that dogged the sunset across the country.
And what a beauty it was to observe the other planets do a colourful parade across our home, the Earth, the only planet not named after any god or deity, in the entire solar system!
That weekend, as the heavens dazzled the Earth in a scarce blaze of glory, Oborevwori was at the threshold of receiving an award for what is evidently a prized diadem at the hands of assessors who had found him worthy of the rare honour.
It may not have happened on the same day as the award but was this celestial display (by its proximity to the award event, in terms of time) a mere coincidence? Perhaps not.
Well, hardly anyone can speak authoritatively to this question, for obvious reasons.
However, there is little room for a sustainable argument that the heavenly display added a notch of significance to the award held in the light of one fact: no other governor of the state by whatever name called, living or dead, has had the privilege of such a rare landmark phenomenon hold within the precincts of the time of his honour. No, never.
Is that not a feat?
That is point number one.
Another reason or factor underlying and underlining the significance of the award is the fact that it was the second honour of the governor in a space of 24 hours, following the earlier conferment on him of the Doctoral Degree (Ph.D) Honorary Causa, in Public Policy and Strategy by Novena University, Ogume.
The issue here is, if two core institutions in society ( a university and credible mass media organization as ThisDay / Arise Television) reach the same result on a subject, should there be any reasonable questions as to their co- terminal results and their import?
So, the positive public perception of the media house adds, by a reasonable stretch of objective reasoning, to the significance of the event. Of course, there is another element that adds to the real significance of the award- the time factor.
That Oborevwori earned the award ( alongside the governors of Lagos, Kaduna, Akwa-Ibom) in just 19 months of being on the saddle is remarkable. If, as it is said in Africa, that only an experienced tongue can correctly pick the true taste of a meal by just one morsel, does any doubt still exist as to the significance of the award which Oborevwori won in just the first full year on the saddle?
That is another point of significance.
Outside of the elements of significance is another important angle to the award, the facts that underpin it.
Yes, as virtually everyone can recall, the governor, (who also walked into the history books on his inauguration as the first Okpe indigene to be governor of the state and the only Speaker of the State House of Assembly to be elected Governor during the pendency of his term of office) at his inauguration on May 29, 2023, unfolded his MORE Agenda under which aegis he vowed to exponentially enhance the tempo and quality of the wholesome development of the state on the basis of equity.
Now, 19 months down the line of time, there is hardly any sustainable argument to the contrary, regarding his performance .
A brief scan of the sector -by -sector engagements of the government is hereunder presented to enhance conviction of the held assertion.
SPORTS
Realizing the multiple benefits of sports to the direct participants and the rest of the society, the administration, to the surprise of not a few, has kept faith with the inherited policy of the state hosting several consecutive editions of the annual National Youth Games (NYG). The significance of this event has two layers; while it spoke to the determination of the administration to keep faith with inherited policies and programmes, it simultaneously attested to the faith of the government, coming, as it were, at a time of extreme economic inclemency.
Of course, by ensuring the adequate funding of the Delta State Sports Commission, the state retained the overall winners’ diadem at the games, and repeated same at the National Sports Festival, to consolidate the strong hold of the state at national sports competitions.
It has also sustained the policy of mandatory annual inter- house sports meets in basic and secondary schools in the state, as well as the Zenith Bank – sponsored Principals’ and Headmasters’ soccer competitions among basic and secondary schools in Delta.
The Judiciary
Without an iota of doubt, the administration has not only sustained the independency of the judiciary, it has also sought to provide/ sustain the volume and quality of infrastructure required to enhance the efficiency of that important arm of the government.
The Oborevwori administration has also provided 20 Sports Utility Vehicles, Prado Jeeps, to judges to ease their operational circumstances.
Other judicial officials got other variants of motor vehicles from the government, which is also firming up work on a judges’ Quarters, while its out – of- the- ordinary High Court Complex bears testimony to the huge store that the government has in that arm of the government.
The complex houses six floors, six witnesses waiting rooms, six holding cells, six secretarial offices, a judges’ lounge, a lawyers’ lounge, a VIP lounge, a multi-purpose hall and two conference halls.
The structure is internet – enabled to help lawyers easily file their court processes electronically.
HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
It is said, the world over, that the development of every society is most aptly defined and best captured in human development terms.
The import of this assertion is not lost on the administration, which, since its inauguration, has taken steps to enhance the tempo and quality of the human capital assets base of the state.
In pursuit of its goal in this direction, the administration has sustained the strategic Office of the State Job Creation Bureau. It has also enabled 250,000 artisans and traders with grants to enhance their undertakings, under the aegis of the D-CARES.
Besides, it has also empowered 2,000 ( two thousand) Deltans to reflate their businesses. It is also firming up efforts to resume the widows’ support programme this year.
The government has also approved the engagement of 3,000 teaching and non- teaching staff into the state’ s basic school system.
PEACE AND SECURITY
Short on the heels of its inauguration into office, the administration moved fast to consolidate the tempo of peace and security in the state by the establishment and operationalization of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council.
This council, comprising experts from different backgrounds, as well as the Office of the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, has worked proactively to resolve existing conflicts and nip others in the bud.
Aside from these efforts, the government has equally been proactive in its support of the security agencies in the state. At the last count, in excess of 60 operational vehicles have been provided for the agencies as part of efforts of the government to enhance the course and cause of enduring peace in the security. It has also kept afloat its own security agency, ‘Operation Delta Sweep’ to more effectively exercise its mandate.
All of these efforts have yielded handsome rewards which have enhanced peace, attracted investors and significantly helped raise the volume of crude oil, (the nation’s live wire), produced in the Niger Delta.
EDUCATION
Effective education has long been identified as the most potent empowerment tool available to man for the development of his society.
Deferring to this, the Oborevwori administration has prioritised the sector by not only its extensive skills acquisition undertakings, but also by its evidently strong support for the final education sector, basic, secondary and tertiary.
It has equally not only sustained the funding of its more than 1,300 public primary and secondary schools, but has also kept afloat its several technical colleges across the state as well as its technical/ vocational centres.
It has also optimally ran its four universities, two polytechnics, two Colleges of Education, multiple Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery, the School of Marine Technology, Burutu, and established and operationalized the College of Health Technology, Ovrode in addition to the one in Ofuoma-Ughelli.
The administration has equally established and operationalized a campus of the Southern Delta State University (formerly Delta State University of Science and Technology, DSUST), Ozoro, in Orerokpe, and created a College of Health Sciences at its main campus in Ozoro.
As a way of easing the burden of parents and their children and wards, it has through its Scholarship Board, supported more than 60,000 deserving Deltans to the tune N1 billion for two academic sessions/ years under the bursary scheme.
SUPPORT FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
In spite of the fact that the local government system is not its direct responsibility, the administration of Oborevwori has helped oil the wheels of administration at that level of public administration.
It has encouraged the state branch of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to secure a N40 billion loan facility to offset the huge arrears of the entitlement retirees of the local government system.
This move, which has virtually ran full cycle, has, by its effects, helped restore the confidence of the otherwise distraught pensioners, in the public service.
The Oborevwori administration has equally approved the recruitment of more than 3,000 teaching and non- teaching personnel into the basic school system, and encouraged the local government Chairmen to extend its own policy of a palliative regime of N10,000 per person over three months, to their staff members in view of the removal of the subsidy on petrol by the Federal Government.
STATE PUBLIC SERVICE
The Oborevwori administration has taken measures to sustain, and, in fact, enhance, the operational efficiency of the state public service.
It not only retained the workforce as inherited, but has gone further to retain the N30,000 minimum wage regime it inherited . It later went on to become the first to effect the new National Minimum Wage on a benchmark of N77,500, a handsome N7,500 above the national minimum peg.
Besides, it has paid a palliative regime under which aegis each member of its over 50,000 strong workforce was paid N10,000 over a three – month period.
It equally committed over N5 billion to offset the arrears of the promition benefits of deserving staff members.
Aside from paying the palliative, the administration also introduced and implemented a new work schedule which entitles non- critical hands to enjoy a two-day off duty privilege per week.
And do you know what?
The work schedule which, has helped affected personnel conserve the resources they would have committed to fares on the affected days, is without prejudice to their annual holidays.
The Oborevwori administration also provided brand new vehicles for Permanent Secretaries, the echelon of its civil service, as part of its efforts to enhance their proficiency.
HEALTH
It is said that health is wealth.
In deference to this, the Oborevwori administration has retrofitted many of its general hospitals and the primary health care centers, as well as funded its Colleges of Nursing and Midwifery, the College of Health Technology, Ufuoma, near Ughelli, and sustained the inherited policy of free medical care for expectant mothers and children under five years of age.
The government has also established and operationalized a College of Health at Ovrode, and a College of Health Sciences at the main campus of Southern Delta State University in Ozoro.
AGRICULTURE
The administration of Oborevwori has also actively supported agriculture by significantly providing cash, by way of grants, fertilizer and fingerlings, to encourage potential and existing farmers in the state.
SHELTER
The place of shelter in the place of the wholesome development of any community is well noted .
In view of this, the Oborevwori administration has put its hands on many housing projects, mainly the High Court Complex, and eight new housing projects at the Commissioners’ Quarters, Asaba.
The administration is also handling a pilot housing scheme in Owa- Oyibu, Ozoro and Kwale. The scheme comprises 30 units of three bedroom and 20 units of two- bedroom apartments.
DIRECT ECONOMY
The state government runs a strict fiscal walkway, anchored on transparency and strict adherence to the principle and philosophy of cost- efficiency.
The administration, in an effort to cut down the debt profile of the state, has repaid over N200 billion of the state’ s debt profile, and invested significantly in the multi- billion UTM Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The UTM LNG project is expected, over time, to enhance the state’ s financial receipts and help harness the huge deposits of natural gas deposits in the state.
It is also held that the development would encourage Deltans to embrace cleaner energy options.
WORKS
Through its Ministry of Works (Urban Roads and Highways, and Rural and Riverine), the administration is undertaking more than 513 (yes, a whopping 513) inherited and new road and bridge projects.
Many of the projects have been completed and commissioned for public use, while others are at various levels of completion. The roads, overall, span in excess of 1,500 kilometres. This is aside from the 950 kilometres of drainage it has put its potent hands to build.
Some of the roads are Okpanam/Ibusa bypass; Ohorhor/Adagbrasa/ Ugolo/ Ukwuodiete: Ezeshi/ Utagba-Uno road: the Ndemili/Utagba-Uno road: the Akumazi-Umuocha) Owere -Olubor road: the ongoing Azagba/Otulu road ; the Trans-Warri Road, culverts and bridges: the Orere bridge; the multiple flyover and road projects at the PTI Junction, the DSC Roundabout and Enerhen Junction; the Asaba/Ughelli dualization, Achala- Ibusa road, the internal roads in the state capital territory, Warri, Sapele and other parts of the state.
The administration is equally involved in some other projects; the Oko- Amakom-Oko-Obiakpu main alignment road; Marine Road, off Cable Point Road, Asaba; Odozi – Obodo street and Leo Okonweze street, both in Asaba; the Ogbeosonwe-Ogbeilo road, Ogbe-Ofu road; Ogbeogonogo Market Storm Drainage Project; Amaechi Agusi street with 10 adjoining streets; Dorah Allanah street; Oluu street; Burutu Drive, off Infant Jesus Road; Odilison Junior Crescent; Agbogun Close; Aloy Isomede street; Ezeoba Ojukwu street; Aretha Table Water Street, off NTA Road, Asaba, and Ajudua street, Okpanam.
Other major projects of the administration include; the landmark Asaba International Market in which it holds a 20 per cent equity.
The project is a private / public partnership (ppp) undertaking with Efab Properties Limited.
The administration is also keeping faith with the inherited Asaba Waterfront City Project it is handling with a private interest.
Under the arrangement, the government is to reclaim the land and provide a six- lane access artery to it, while the private interest is to take responsibility for the development of the city.
SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
Aside from its direct development efforts, the administration has also oiled the wheels of its three special purposes vehicles(SPVs)- Delta State Capital Territory Development Authority (DSCTDA), the Warri/Uvwie/Effurun Development Authority (WUEDA) and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC )-;are actively involved in the overall development initiatives in their mandate areas.
While DSCTDA is consolidating the efforts of the state government to make Asaba and its environs befitting of the capital of oil – rich Delta, WUEDA is up and about trying to erase the toga of an urban slum that the economic nerve centre of the state, Warri, had ingloriously become.
As for the DESOPADEC, it is stridently working to ensure that the inhabitants of oil- producing areas of the state, its core geographic mandate areas, have a befitting deeper bite of the huge proceeds of the vital crude oil and gas reserves with which their areas glut.
Legion of other roads- too many to list out in a small space as is available to me – are also being handled by the state government. In all, the projects bear testimony to the missionary commitment of the administration to its MORE Agenda, and provide the predicate for the award, which, no doubt, should spur the governor to rededicate himself and to the wellbeing of the people by whose endorsement and active support he became governor.
Going forward, there is little room for any sustainable fear as to whether the government will slip in its tempo of service delivery.
The assurance lies partly in the personal devotion of the governor to quality projects delivery, as well as the provision of an alluring N630 billion in the current year’s budget for only capital project undertakings.
It is well with Delta under the watch of Oborevwori.
