By PRINCE PERE BOTU
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has advocated for the diversification of the nation’s mono economy of crude oil to other key sectors such as agriculture, solid mineral and science and technology among others to develop and improved the economy of Nigeria.
Gov Okowa stated this today, when he received members of the Advocacy Team of Partnership Initiatives of Niger Delta (PIND) led by Mr. Chuks Ofulue in Government House, Asaba.
The Delta State Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, noted that the over dependence of resources derived from crude oil for the nation’s economy to the detriment of other sectors had negative implications for the growth and development of the country.
He urged the federal government to develop a strong agricultural policy to drive the sector at all levels of government because of the potentials in the sector in order not to rely solely on crude oil.
While commending the organization for it’s efforts for peace and development of the region, Gov Okowa noted that no nation can develop by relying solely on one sector.
“I want to commended Partnership Initiatives of Niger Delta for it’s peace initiatives in the Niger Delta region. No meaningful develop can thrive in an atmosphere of violence”
The Gov maintained that his administration deliberately constituted some institutional agencies to drive the peace process in the state such as the Delta State Advocacy Against Oil Assets Destruction, Delta State Elders Council, Delta State Water Ways and Land Security, Operation Delta Hawk and the Delta State Bureau of Orientation.
According to him, “those agencies were constituted to achieve peace and to enhance the actualisation of the policy thrust of the present administration. So I commend PIND for complementing the efforts of the State government in that direction.
Governor Okowa urged PIND to deepen it’s partnership with the state government as such relationship would bring economic development.
“Over the years, PIND had stood for peace and economic development of the Niger Delta”. He noted.
Earlier, the Advocacy Manager of PIND , Mr Chuks Ofulue, who disclosed that the organisation was set up in 2010 by Chevron to bring peace and development in the region, noted that the multinational oil company had about eighty percent presence in Delta State while in other states it had about twenty percent.
According to Ofulue, “PIND was desirous to see the economic development of the state as it was looking at developing the agricultural sector and small scale enterprises”.
While stressing the need for PIND and the State Government to work together to develop the agricultural sector, Mr Ofulue stated that a well developed agricultural policy by government to strengthen the sector was needed.
The Advocacy Manager disclosed that PIND was working with the International Food Agency and other stakeholders in the state to achieve results.
Also, in a verbal communication with Pressmen, Oteheri Odjeni (Mrs), a member of the PIND Advocacy Team who reiterated the position of Child Ofulue, disclosed that in the Niger Delta, the fisheries sector is of utmost importance to particularly small-scale fish farmers which make up about 80% of the sector, supplying roughly 82% of the country’s domestic fish production. PIND initiated the Aquaculture Value Chain Project to address constraints, stimulate considerable growth and improve the efficiency of the aquaculture sector.
“PIND seeks relevant government participation and support for project activities, ensuring goals and objectives are not in conflict with government plans or policies”. Oteheri Odjeni added.