Delta Unveils Post-Coronavirus Economic Plans
Nationwide tally now 19,147, with 6581 discharged and 487 deaths
Omon-JuliusOnabuinAsaba
In what could be decscribed as an extraordinary economic State Executive Council( EX CO) meeting, the Delta State Government has taken far-reaching decisions meanttoshore-uptheeconomic and social fortune soft he state in a post-COVID-19 era.
This is coming on the heels of the 667 new cases of COVID-19 recorded nationwide yesterday, taking the tally to 19,147, with 6581 discharged and 487 deaths.
Accordingly, Delta State has unfolded plans to establish a modular refinery in Okpai,N do kw a East
Local Government Area of the state as well as commence work at an agro-industrial park in the state in ad joining Kw ale, N do kw a West Local Government Area.
Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles A ni ag wu,
while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week' s state EX CO meeting presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Asaba, revealed that the government also "appointed a committee to assess the state of Africa Timber and Ply wood( AT& P) S ape le and determine how the land it is occupyingcould be effect ive lyutil is ed for other economic venture sand job creation."
A ni ag wu, who was joined at the post-EX CO briefing by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. O lisa If eajika, also disclosed that are view of the Delta State 2020 Budget would soon be ready for on ward submission to the Delta State House of Assembly owing to the drastic di pin expected revenue from oil because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Information Commissionernoted that Governor Ok ow a remained passionate about rekindling the state' s economy in the' Greater Delta' spirit through programmes and schemes that would get more Del tans positively engaged and significantly shake off the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aniagwu said that the aforementioned projects would create numerous jobs even at their construction stages and a good number of youths engaged as the state government would also be partnering the private sector to train some youths on how to construct telecommunication towers, for instance, as "it's the global economic trend and we don't want the world to leave us behind." Aniagwu said, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, what we had today was more of an economic EXCO meeting as it was basically on how tore-jig the economy of the state to get more of our people engaged now and after the COVID-19.
"Most of us are aware of the agro-industrial Park at AbohOgwashi. EXCO approved that government should explore the window provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria( CB N) Agriculture Loan to see that the industrial park, which will be private sector driven, comes on stream ." Delta is known for its petrochemicals and EX CO believes that it is high time we participated in that sector.