By Eseoghene Emuke
A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 gubernatorial election in Delta State, Olorogun Abel Oghenevo Esievo, has itemized a step-by-step approach on how he planned to develop the state if elected to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Esievo, a former chairman, Conference of Auditors General for Local Governments of Nigeria (CAGLGN), said he planned to establish three industries in the three senatorial districts to gainfully employ youths in the state.
He said the industries upon creation will be enlisted into the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and would be privately operated by professionals.
The PDP governorship aspirant spoke while addressing a group selected journalists at his campaign office in Asaba, Delta State.
Esievo, who hails from Ekpan-Ovu in Agbon Kingdom, boasted that he is the best person to succeed incumbent Governor Okowa in 2023 with best workable programmes on how to develop the state.
The aspirant, who was the State Auditor General (Local Government) between 2015-2021, disclosed that he was in the race to build on the achievements of Governor Okowa and his predecessors having first-hand knowledge of how government works.
He added that aside planning to establish three new industries, he plans to work with critical stakeholders revive ailing public and private industries in the state including African Timber and Plywood Company (AT&P), Bendel Glass and Superbru.
“This is a carefully thought out and a deliberate design to have a multiplier effect on the sub-national economy of Delta State. It focuses on driving a local-content based industrialization process across the three senatorial districts of Delta State by the
establishment of one large scale/labour intensive industry in each of the three senatorial districts annually for the period of my tenure totaling 12 industries.
“With the local content initiative, the first industries shall constitute the basis towards the establishment of others as they will serve as the seed capital for the next set of industries in the future. The performance of these industries is sacrosanct to the success and stability of their continued existence.
“In order to further consolidate their sustainability index, these industries will be made public liability (most likely at the stock markets), where Deltans can partake in the affairs of the industries with minimal government involvement in their day-to-day running. We shall propose a minimum of between 10 – 15% shareholdings of these companies to be reserved for the indigenes of the State, thereby enabling a buy-in of Deltans.
“It is important to note, that the Local Content required for the industrialization drive shall be more Agrotechnically based, were agricultural produces will be a major stay for the industries to help in the transformation of agricultural produce to finished consumer products that will meet Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and International Standards.
“To further expatiate, the required labour must be indigent to each of the senatorial district, trained to meet the labour/technical requirements of these said industries. The ultimate aim of the industrialization strategy is to compliment Government efforts at generating employment opportunities for all and sundry.
“As we all may be aware of the many factories/industries such as; the Bendel Steel Structure Limited (BSSL), Bendel Glass, Ughelli, Asaba Textile Mill, the Warri/Koko/Asaba industrial parks, Delta Timber Industry, Burutu, while not forgetting the SIO industries, Asaba, AT&P and Eternit in Sapele, as well as, the recent closure of the Asaba Aluminum Company, to mention but a few that have gone underground.
“As part of our industrialization programme, we will sustain all necessary efforts aimed at re-establishing/revamping ailing/moribund industries using the same approach so-established alongside beckoning on genuine investors through Public Private Partnership, PPP, which will facilitate the industrial drive, thus contributing greatly to employment generation and our contribution: to national GDP growth rate. Still under the programme of revamping privately owned abandoned industrial enterprises, government will convert all resources expended on such ventures into term-loans to such companies.
“This gesture is geared towards improving the industrial capacity of the State as well as providing employment opportunities for our youths. It can also lead to increased revenue generation to government”, Esievo stated.
He added that his administration will also collaborate with next Federal Government to revive moribund seaports to improve the economy of the state.
According him, “In addition, a paramount strategy of our government to further consolidate our industrialization programme shall be the call on the relevant Federal Government Authorities to reactivate our local seaports at Warri, Burutu, Koko and Sapele to stimulate employment generation and improve economic activities in the State.
“Government will interface with Federal authorities to assist with the dredging of the Escravos channel to ease passage of ships/ocean liners to the aforementioned seaport. The revival of the seaports will lead to increase economic activities in the State.
“It is noticeable, that our teeming youths are largely unemployed, thus increasing the rate of youth restiveness within the State. Our industrialization policy is geared towards not only creation of industries, but also to mop up our unemployed youths from the labour market. Government will leverage on the already existing programmes such as; STEP, YAGEP, RYSA, WESAP, and GEEP programmes. In addition, we will re-commission with unequal vigour, the Vocational/Technical Education as part of the JSS alternative partway to achieving youth self-reliance and improved “employability” of the graduating youths required in our industrialization drive.
“Financial/Technical intervention will be coordinated through financial and technical institutes willing to partner with government using a revolving schemes to facilitate start-ups SMEs. Government will encourage greater participation of youths across the state.”
