Business

Delta Govt Woos Investors …Promises High Return On Investment

Published

10 years ago

September 12, 2016

The Delta State Governor,
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has assured local and international investors of high return on investment when they tap into the rich business opportunities that abound in the state.
The governor gave this assurance at the weekend in Lagos when he delivered a lecture titled ‘Public Policy & Governance in Delta State: Opportunities And Challenges’ at the ‘dialogue with public policy makers’ programme organised by the Lagos Business School and Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Okowa, accompanied by top government functionaries, said: “With what we are doing in partnership with the Federal Government and community leaders, peace is gradually returning to the troubled Niger Delta region, and I can assure our prospective investors that we are going to have a lasting and sustainable peace in the region and that a conducive atmosphere awaits prospective investors. There are a lot of business opportunities for investors.”
He noted that the private sector has a lot to offer and is pivotal to the state’s investment drive which seeks to significantly develop the non-oil sectors of the economy such that they will overtake oil and gas as growth drivers.
The governor disclosed that his administration’s vision is to make Delta State the pacesetter in the country by building an enduring legacy of wealth and prosperity for all through public policy imperatives geared at maximising comparative advantages of the state, developing the non-oil sectors of the economy, creating jobs, and accelerating infrastructural development.
“Delta State has an economy size of $24.6 billion based on GDP rebase of 2013, making us the fourth largest economy in the country with multiple urban centres, numbering as many as 12,” he said, adding: “Average poverty rate based on head count is 56%, lower than the national average of 62 per cent; the per capita income is calculated at about N302 or less than $2.00 per day while unemployment/underemployment rate stood at 27.2 per cent in 2014, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
“In a bid to address the challenges posed by the drop in statutory allocation, the state government developed the Delta State Medium Term Development Plan (DSMTDP) (2016-2019), a policy document that provides the road map to: Drive rapid infrastructural development; ensure and sustain inclusive economic growth and sustainable development; reduce the worrisome high level of youth unemployment, pervasive poverty; and woo the private sector to explore and exploit the economic and business opportunities in Delta State,” he said.
He added that the state’s PPP Model is already yielding results with agreements already signed for the Delta Commercial City Project, Umunede Rest Park, Asaba Integrated Power Project, Warri-Effurun Water Scheme, Agro-Industrial Parks and Housing Projects in the state.
Earlier in a remark, Dr. Chris Ogbechie, who represented the Dean, Lagos Business School, said the school in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group has a proven track record of engagement with public sector policy makers in proffering solutions to developmental challenges in a growing economy like Nigeria.
Similarly, the Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa last weekend attended a Business Dinner in Lagos, hosted by renowned economist and eminent Deltan, Prof. Pat Utomi, where he said that his administration would support investments in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors in the state.
Okowa said that as the state moves to reduce its dependence on crude oil, his administration would strengthen the enabling environment for investments to thrive in the agriculture and other sectors.
While commending the international community for their support in attracting investments to the state, he assured that the Asaba Airport upgrade would be ready in December to accommodate bigger aircraft and also attract more airlines into the state.
In his remarks, Prof. Pat Utomi said there were lots of untapped potentials in Delta State, describing the state as the next business destination and urged the international community to consider the numerous business opportunities in the state.
The business dinner was attended by German Consul General, Mr. Ingo Herbert, British Deputy High Commissioner, Ahmed Bashir, South African Consul-General in Lagos, Darkey Ephraim Africa, United States Consular for Commercial Services, UBA Plc Chairman, Mr Tony Elumelu, Managing Director of UBA Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, MD of Rain Oil, Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie, Mr. Henry Okolo and some members of the Delta State Executive Council.

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.