Delta State Government said it is taking deliberate fiscal measures to make the state an investment-friendly climate to potential foreign and local investors.

Executive Assistant to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on External Relations and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Sunny Ofehe, stated this during an interview with newsmen.

Ofehe said the present administration in the state was addressing critical challenges including infrastructure and insecurity as well as initiating fiscal policies to enhance the ease of doing business.

According to him, the state government devoted almost sixty percent of the 2024 budget size of N725 billion to capital expenditure with the ultimate goal to build critical structures that are investment friendly.

He said in the past seven months of the new administration, Governor Oborevwori has made his intention to build infrastructure known with the N78 billion flyover and road expansion project in Warri/Effurun area being handled by renowned construction giants, Julius Berger.

Ofehe maintained that Delta has other potentials for investors to tap into, noting that the state government investment drive goes beyond meeting Nigerians in diaspora but “we are going to sell Delta State to the global community at large. Delta State is very easy to sell.

“Delta State, as it’s today, is the gateway to the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria. Delta State today is the only state with two major functioning airports in the State capital Asaba with an international standard runway that can land even an airbus A380, and the other airport located in the state’s commercial hub city of Warri.”

Besides, the governor’s aide listed oil and gas deposits, availability of cheap, resourceful and energetic labour force and security, adding that with four seaports, and about 165km of coastline, Delta also has huge potentials to drive blue economy.

“So, we have all the abundant natural and mineral resources, even solid minerals to be precise, and in addition to that, we have high human capital development because we pride ourselves as the state with the highest tertiary institutions in this country.

“Remember that since the beginning of this administration in the last seven months, there has not been a single borrowing. Therefore, we are not only guaranteeing the security and safety of our diaspora investments but we are also assuring them of a better business investment climate in Delta State,” he said.

The environmental right activist disclosed that he recently came into the state with some European investors and Dutch experts on flood managements and shoreline protection.

“We even embarked on a trip to several communities in Escravos in Warri South-west Local Government area of the state and they were amazed with what they saw. They all planned to visit again and bring their knowledge and expertise.

“Whenever, I visit Delta State with foreign investors, I always ensure that they see our urban and rural communities and their lifestyles. They also see the potential we have in both natural, mineral and human capital development,” he added.

Ofehe said Delta is synonymous with investors across the world, adding that the state has the capacity to become the seventh largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa.

On Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), he was ambitious, saying that the target is to ensure that before the end of 2024, the present administration “will outgrow the 1.1 million dollars that you or NBS said are the highest we could bring in 2022.

“Our target is to grow that, and we are working toward that. We are definitely going to improve on that because Investors are coming in from all sectors.

“I have assured the governor that my office alone can attract, in one year on a minimum amount of 1 billion dollars in FDI.

“The Secretary to the State Government has been engaging foreign investors in the state. So, what we are doing right now is engagement, and then we will also structure some possible external visits for the governor to go out there,” he added.

Update news