FG FLAGS OFF INDUSTRIALISATION OF NIGER DELTA IN ONDO

In fulfilment  of its promise to transform the economic fortunes of the nine states in the Niger Delta region through industrialisation, the Federal Government  of Nigeria has flagged off the Presidential Initiative for the Industrialisation of Niger Delta in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani who led the Federal Government’s delegation, said the Presidential Initiative was intended to  revive moribund  industries, exploit and explore the huge economic potentials in the  region through the involvement of private sector.

The Minister said that government was working  together with those who can provide  the funds in order to overcome the challenge  of funding this laudable initiative.

He called on  investors to take advantage  of the viability of Ondo State by investing in the state in the areas of agriculture, solid minerals and industrialisation.

“There is a place to invest and that place  is Ondo State”, he reiterated.

Pastor  Usani added that Enugu state was included in this Presidential  Initiative  in recognition of the large deposit of cashew nuts  in the state and its closeness to the Niger Delta  region.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu said the state was determined to work with the Federal Government and the private sector in order to achieve  the cardinal points of his administration which includes, industrialisation,  agriculture and entrepreneurship.

The Governor reiterated that Ondo State has the second largest deposit of bitumen in the world and the largest producers of cocoa in Nigeria.

In view of the large deposits of oil and gas in Ondo state, the governor disclosed  that the state had sought the support of the Presidency and the Ministry  of Niger Delta Affairs to establish oil and gas related industries in the state.

Governor Akeredolu believes that with proper implementation  of the Presidential  Initiative,  Ondo State would soon become the hub of industrialisation  in the country.

The Governor also revealed that the state was endowed with other mineral resources such as Tarsand,  Limestone, Coal, Granite,  Kaolin, among others waiting to be exploited.

The Presidential Industrialisation Initiative  Team used the opportunity of being in Ondo  State to visit some oil palm producing sites in Akure North Local Government  Area, for on- the-spot -assessment  of the challenges confronting the various oil plants in the state.

The Presidential mission hosted by the  Ondo State government is being driven by the Presidency,  Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investments, Mines and Steel Development, Nigeria  National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Nigeria Sovereign  Investment  Authority, Bank of Industry,  Nexim Bank, New Partnership for Africa  Development (NEPAD) and other investors.

It should be noted that one of the focal areas of the President Muhammadu  Buhari led administration is to boost the nation’s economy by reducing her over dependence  on oil and diversification  into agriculture, solid minerals  and entrepreneurship  development.

Part of these efforts is the Presidential Initiative  on Industrialisation  of the Niger Delta region of which Ondo State is serving as a pioneer.

The Minister of State  for Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Omoleye Daramola who was also at the event said he was happy that the Presidential  Initiative  Programme for Industrialisation was taken place in his state promised  that  necessary efforts would be made to ensure that the programme succeeds, especially  the development  of bitumen in the state.