Dear Deltans,
On New Year’s Day, I issued a goodwill message titled “2025: EXPECT MORE DEMOCRACY DIVIDENDS, DELTA STATE GOVT. ASSURES DELTANS,” focusing on the need for Deltans to anticipate greater accomplishments from the M.O.R.E. Agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.
It is, therefore, disheartening that the APC Publicity Secretary in Delta State, Mr. Valentine Onojeghuo, has twisted this message to claim that there is nothing more to expect from the administration in 2025. While I would typically leave such a response to the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Onojeghuo’s personal reference to me necessitates this statement.
The Reality of Oborevwori’s Achievements
Mr. Onojeghuo acknowledged the Warri/Effurun Flyover bridges but failed to recognize other significant achievements in less than two years of this administration:
1. Flood Mitigation: Massive Storm Water Drainage projects in Warri/Effurun metropolis.
2. Urban Renewal: Township roads in Ughelli, Sapele, and the Olomoro-Igbide road.
3. Major Infrastructure: Progress on the 139-kilometre Asaba-Ughelli expressway, the Obo bridge, Kwale-Beneku bridge, Ayakoromo bridge, and Trans-Warri Ode Itsekiri bridges.
4. Road Development: Phase 1 of the Emevor-Orogun road project is complete, with Phase 2 underway.
Budgetary Commitment to Development
Contrary to Mr. Onojeghuo’s claim of N1 billion for infrastructure per local government area, the administration has allocated N2 billion per local government in the 2025 budget, with 60% devoted to capital expenditure — one of the highest in the country.
Health Sector Advancements
The administration has:
Renovated, upgraded, and equipped 150 Primary Health Care Centres and 64 General Hospitals.
Expanded the State Contributory Health Insurance Scheme to cover over 2 million enrollees.
Enhanced medical education with new faculties and campuses, such as at Southern Delta University, Ozoro, and Oghara Teaching Hospital.
Secured the $400,000 Bill and Melinda Gates PHC award for outstanding performance.
Education and Social Investment
In education, over 30,000 Delta students have received N674 million in bursary payments, and N3.55 billion has been paid as counterpart funding for the Universal Basic Education Programme. Social investments include expanding the D-CARES programme and launching initiatives like the MORE Grant Scheme, MORE Biz-Up, and WESAP, which have empowered hundreds of women and persons with disabilities.
Agriculture Sector Vision
The administration is committed to:
Supporting farmers with inputs and financial aid for over 6,000 beneficiaries.
Raising 50,000 agro-preneurs through partnerships with the Africa Development Bank-NEPAD Programme.
An Invitation to Verify
To dispel misinformation, the Ministry of Information invites Mr. Onojeghuo and his team for a facility tour of ongoing and completed projects. Such a visit would provide firsthand knowledge of the administration’s efforts.
Conclusion
Politics should not overshadow governance. As 2025 unfolds, Deltans can look forward to more impactful and verifiable dividends of democracy under the M.O.R.E. Agenda.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is working, and Deltans are seeing it.
Dr. Ifeanyi Michael Osuoza
Commissioner for Information,
Delta State.