Delta State has increased its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from about ?84 billion in 2023 to over N200 billion, representing a growth of more than 138 per cent, as the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori intensifies efforts to diversify the state’s economy beyond oil.

The development came to the fore on Monday in Asaba during a visit by a delegation from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to assess Delta’s economic diversification and revenue generation initiatives.

Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sunny Ekedayen, said the state was deliberately repositioning its economy through investments in agriculture, industrialisation, innovation and other non-oil sectors.

He disclosed that the impressive revenue growth was achieved without increasing personal income tax, attributing it to an expanded tax net, improved administration, stronger compliance and efficient revenue collection.

Ekedayen said agriculture had become a major driver of the diversification agenda through Public-Private Partnerships, with government providing land while investors supplied capital and technology for large-scale cultivation of crops such as cassava and oil palm.

Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije, said the government was also boosting industrialisation through strategic infrastructure investments, disclosing that the Kwale Industrial Park would soon be fully energised to attract investors.

He added that efforts were ongoing to revive maritime activities through improved collaboration with the Federal Government on the Warri and Forcados ports.

Leader of the RMAFC delegation, Mr. Victor Eboigbe, described dependence on oil revenue as unsustainable and commended Delta’s commitment to economic diversification.

He said the assessment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and praised Governor Oborevwori for policies aimed at building a resilient and sustainable economy.

The Federal Commissioner representing Delta State in RMAFC, Hon. Aruviere Martins Egwarhevwa, said the visit was part of the Commission’s constitutional mandate to evaluate states’ diversification efforts and strengthen collaboration on fiscal development.

The delegation expressed satisfaction with Delta’s economic transformation initiatives and urged the state to sustain the momentum.

•PHOTO: From right: Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Mogbolu; Commissioner representing Delta State on the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Martins Aruviere Egharhevba; Delta State Commissioner for Finance, Sir Tilije Okenmor; Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sunny Ekedayen; leader of the RMAFC delegation to Delta State, Mr. Victor Eboigbe; other members of the delegation; and key Delta State stakeholders during the Commission’s assessment visit to evaluate the state’s economic diversification projects and programmes. PHOTO: BRIPIN ENARUSAI

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