Delta state government has restated that it is poised to showcase the development efforts of Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan’s administration as the Good Governance team led by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku undertakes a tour of the state.

The Federal Government‘s Good Governance Tour team will storm Delta State Wednesday, just as the State Government said It has many projects and programmes to showcase to the world as the team visit the state on inspection of Federal, State and Local government council’s projects.

The Chairman, Committee on National Good Governance Tour of the state and Commissioner for Works, Mr. Funkekeme Solomon on Tuesday, while briefing journalists in Asaba on the level of the state preparedness, commended the Federal Government in partnership with the media for introducing the tour, pointing out that it will help to showcase the projects of government at all levels.

Solomon, who said the visit was to examine  major federal projects in the state, outlined different sectors that the team would inspect to include education, power, housing, health, transport, agriculture, infotech, roads, bridges in urban and rural areas and micro credit , as well as the landmark programmes of the Delta State Oil Producing Development Area Commission (DESOPADEC), including projects embarked upon by the local government areas in the state.

According to him, “We have set aside some pivotal projects in various parts of the state which the team will visit. Given the huge landmass of Delta State and the spread of the developmental projects executed by Uduaghan administration across the state, the two functional days, the Good Governance team is expected to spend in the State are too short for them to see the projects executed by the government”.

“From education, health, road infrastructure, small and medium scale enterprises, agriculture, airport development, power infrastructure and housing to sports, Government House, Delta State has success stories to tell. Star projects in selected locations in Asaba, Agbor, Warri, Ughelli and other towns will be visited by the team”.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information, Barr. Chike Ogeah who is also a member of the Committee noted that the tour will among other things show to the world the laudable programmes of governor Emmanuel Uduaghan since 2007 till date and to actualize the Delta beyond oil dream which is achievable and already being achieved.

While calling for the corporation of Deltans in making the programme a huge success, he re-affirmed that Governor Uduaghan’s administration has performed extremely well in all sectors of the economy and has numerous people oriented projects to showcase.

According to Ogeah, the various projects spread across the state were being undertaken by the state government to strengthen its philosophy of piloting Delta beyond oil.

The Delta team includes Funkekeme Solomon, three members of the state House of Assembly, Pat Ajudua, Efe Ofobruku and Oboro Preyor; Commissioners for Health, Joseph Otumara; Information, Chike Ogeah; Basic and Secondary Education, Patrick Muoboghare and Special Infrastructure, Orezi Esievo.

Others are Commissioners for Energy, Charles Emetulu; Poverty Alleviation, Antonia Ashiedu; Water Resources, Chris Oghenechowvwen; Economic Planning, Kenneth Okpara; Finance, Bernard Okumagba; Chairman and Secretary of DESOPADEC with the Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Eddy Ogidigbegbaje as its secretary.

DRAFT SPEECH:

Gentlemen of the press, it is my pleasure to welcome you to this briefing. As you are aware, a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Information led by the Honourable Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku has been undertaking a tour of various states in the country under the Good Governance Tour.

The Tour entails the visit of the delegation to the major project sites and developmental strides recorded by each state. It is the turn of Delta State as the Good Governance Tour team is expected to arrive Asaba tomorrow, Wednesday, February 20, 2013.

In order to prepare adequately for the Tour, His Excellency, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, CON, Governor Delta State, constituted a planning committee made up commissioners of some ministries with me as chairman. The committee has been working assiduously in the past week to make the Tour a hitch-free exercise.

Given the huge land mass of Delta State and the spread of the developmental projects of the Uduaghan Administration across the entire state, the two functional days the Good Governance Tour team is expected to spend in Delta State are too short for them to see the projects executed by the government.

However, we have set aside some pivotal projects in different parts of the state which the Tour team will visit.  Although they are expected in Asaba on Wednesday, the actual tour will begin the following day, Thursday, February 21. I will like to inform with all sense of pride that our committee is spoilt for choice on projects and locations they will visit. The administration of Dr. Uduaghan has recorded tremendous achievements in all facets of development.

From education, health, road infrastructure, small and medium scale enterprises, agriculture, airport development, power infrastructure and housing to sports, the Government of Delta State has success stories to tell. Star projects in selected locations in Asaba, Agbor, Warri, Ughelli and other towns will be visited by the Team.

Under the Delta Beyond Oil initiative of the Governor, a path towards driving growth and creating employment outside the purview of revenue from crude oil has been charted. Ultimately, generations of Deltans will have a strong economic base to sustain their economic development when oil inevitably dries up.

The Tour will be rounded off on Saturday, February 24, 2013 with a Town Hall meeting, an open forum where Deltans from all works of life and every part of the state will have an interactive session with the Governor and members of his Executive Council as well as with the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and his delegation.

Gentlemen of the press, we invite you to be part of this programme as we continue to count on your cooperation.
I thank you all.

Hon. Funkekeme Solomon
Chairman, Committee on National Good Governance Tour of Delta State.
February 19, 2013