ON THE PLANNED ESTABLISHMENT OF A DELTA STATE INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY – A GROSSLY MISPLACED PRIORITY AND AVENUE FOR WASTE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY THE DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT

By Zik Gbemre

In what was supposedly his determination to fully harness the investment potential in Delta State, we were flabbergasted and greatly appalled with recent reports that the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, on Tuesday July 26, 2016, in Asaba the State capital, announced the intention of his administration to set up a Delta State Investment Development Agency. We could not help but wonder what is the need of the said Delta State Investment Development Agency? How can a State Government be planning to establish an Investment Development Agency when the same Government has not been able to put ‘the basic things’ in place to attract Investors into the State? To put in bluntly, this Governor Okowa Investment Development Agency is practically a duplication of the Delta State Ministry of Commerce and Industry and another conduit pipe through which the State’s public funds will be wasted, misappropriated and misused to the satisfaction of some selected few but to the detriment of Deltans as a whole.

Okowa, who spoke during a visit by the Swiss Consular General, Yves Nicolet, said that the State Investment Development Agency Amendment Bill was presently before the Delta State House Of Assembly and would be approved in the next few weeks. He said that the agency would liaise with the organized private sector, embassies, diplomatic missions and investors in the world over to utilize the investment opportunities and to improve bi-lateral and investment relationship in the State. Okowa explained that given the recent financial challenges facing the country due to dwindling oil price, the State has embarked on the diversification of its economy through the agricultural sector using commercial farmers and other farmers on the ground.According to him, in the next few years, the measures will act as a pivot to aggregate the state’s economic output, export its produce, improve the revenue base and also uplift the life of the peasant farmers.

Big and ambitious plans one might say. But let us not be deceived by such ‘sweet talks.’ When it comes to the Delta State Government, both past and present, it is mere ‘talks’ than actions in reality. Never have we seen or witnessed a government that loves to use every opportunity in public and all manners of publicity stunts to make itself look like they are seriously working and to look good in the eyes of the world; as we have seen exhibited by past and present Delta State Governments within the last 16 years. In fact, such exhibited attributes by the Delta State government were, and are often coated with ‘sweet talks/write ups’ that are pleasing only to the eyes and ears but all aimed at deceiving the public.

To put it more bluntly, the planned Delta State Investment Development Agency by Governor Okowa is absolutely needless, a complete misplacement of priorities and fruitless effort by the Delta State Government in trying to attract investment into the State and diversify the State’s economy. The said move by Governor Okowa, is like pouring water in a basket, which will however be in the interest of some selected few in government circles but definitely not in the interest of Deltans.

What is expected of the Governor Okowa Government is to judiciously play its statutory role as an ‘enabler of businesses to thrive’ and the Arm that ‘oils the engine’ for businesses to grow; by providing the needed environment that would attract investments/investors into the State in the first place. Like other businesses, investor (both foreign and domestic) will easily respond to incentives, not to mere appeals or setting up an Investment Development Agency. The incentive would obviously include creating a more conducive business environment, reducing taxes, rates, demands by State and Local government agencies and officials and host communities, improving security and social infrastructure like steady power supply and good roads in the State, etc. in fact, providing Security/Safety assurance and needed basic Infrastructure Development are the most important incentives, which the Delta State Government should focus on if it really wants to attract investment into the State and diversify its economy. Rather than establishing a so called Investment Development Agency. Unless prospective Investors are fully convinced that it will be “more profitable and peaceful to operate in Delta State”, they will not be moved or find it appealing to invest in Delta State.

There is no purpose-driven government which wants to leave a lasting legacy that will outlive them and greatly impact its people, that will not focus on ensuring security and basic infrastructure for its economy to grow. Even the United States of America (USA), as highly developed as they are, is still investing heavily in these areas to sustain their economic growth and continue to be an attraction to foreigners and investors across the world. As a matter of fact, USA Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, while during one of her campaigns, unveiled the largest plank of her economic agenda by proposing hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, primarily on infrastructure projects.The proposals constitute the largest amount of spending that the campaign has outlined thus far — exceeding the $350 billion that Clinton has proposed for a college affordability plan — all aimed at creating what the campaign calls higher-paying, ­middle-class jobs.“Investing in infrastructure makes tremendous sense, both because it creates jobs that pay above median wages and because it improves overall productivity, which leads to higher incomes across the broader economy,” said Jake Sullivan, senior policy adviser for the Clinton campaign.

Now, if a Presidential candidate of the USA could be thinking and planning in these lines despite the fact that USA is obviously developed in every standard, how much of a State Governor of a State that is grossly underdeveloped. This is why we are surprised that Governor Okowa could be embarking on such a wasteful vesture as setting up a supposed Investment Development Agency. Governor Okowa, aside being the elected Governor of Delta State, is well-traveled and a trained Medical Doctor that has seen the four walls of the University, hence he should act and take action that will not make him look like a ‘political thug’ who found his way into Government Office. More so, Governor Okowa has been in Government since 1999 and has worked as a Commissioner, Secretary to Delta State Government and as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This makes him an &ls quo;all-round’ Nigerian politician who has been there and done that. So we are very surprised that a man like Okowa, with such number of years in government circles, could still act and take actions that are best described as moves made by an inexperienced, politically timid and barbaric ignorant man. It simply does not make sense or add up.

Governor Okowa cannot be talking about attracting investment into Delta State and diversifying the economy of the State when it has not done its part by providing the needed security assurance and basic infrastructure.  Governor Okowa cannot be talking about attracting investors in the State as part of efforts to diversify its economy when, even Security Operatives like the Police are not provided needed IT gadgets such as Walkie-Talkies, Radios, as well as Patrol Vehicles and their logistics to adequately fight violent crimes. Governor Okowa cannot be busy wasting public funds setting up a so called Investment Development Agency when basic infrastructure like regular power supply and good road networks are nothing to write home about in Delta State. We believe it is only when the State is safe and secured, and there is evident massive infrastructural development, that investors will be attracted to invest in the State. If Govern or Okowa should like, let him establish 100 Million Delta State Investment Agencies; without the peace needed sustainable secured and safe environment with basic massive infrastructural development, Investors cannot be attracted to the State to invest. No investor/businessman would like to throw his hard earned money into the Atlantic Ocean.

So, it is not enough for the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, to establish a State Investment Development Agency Or appeal to International Oil Companies (IOCs) like Shell (SPDC) to return back into the State (like he did some months back), without doing anything to attract Investors and IOCs that have left before, back to the State. The Governor has to show some element of seriousness, by addressing pressing insecurity issues in the State like kidnapping, armed robbery, community youth restiveness (Youth Violence) and unreasonable demands e.g ‘Deve’ (Illegal Fees), decayed and non-existing basic amenities and infrastructure etc. Governor Okowa should not expect Shell (SPDC) and all the other oil companies like Pan Ocean that have left the State, to return back when he has not done anything to attract them back. Neither should he expect Investors to come into the State to invest when there is nothing to at tract them on the profitability of such moves. It will be like inviting the President to your home for dinner without actually any food in the first place to entertain your guest. The question is, what has Governor Okowa done to attract prospective Investors and Companies that have left the State back? What effort has the Delta State Government made or are making in this regard, to attract Investors and these oil companies back?

Today, people across the globe, especially Nigerians like going to places like Dubai, London, Singapore, New-York, Amsterdam, Dallas, Atlanta, Manchester, Milan, Napoli, Birmingham, New Castle, New Jersey, Paris and other developed countries/cities to invest, do businesses and spend holidays simply because the government of these places have done their homework by creating the “enabling attractive environment” and Security assurance for any business or tourist attraction to thrive with little or no interferences to profit/benefit margins. This is exactly what the Delta State Government should be focusing on doing rather than establishing a so called Investment Development Agency. Once the Delta State Government is able to create the needed ‘friendly-business environment,’ and ‘Security/Safety Assurance’, they will not have to make any appeals or e stablish any Investment Agency for any company or investor to come and invest in the State. The well-developed,well-secured, conducive and friendly-business environment will be more than enough incentive and bait for companies and investors to rush into the State.

Governor Okowa is well-traveled, hence it baffles us that he is not thinking of replicating or bringing into Delta State, some of the things done by his counterparts in other developed cities in the US, UK and Asian Countries. It is either Governor Okowa has surrounded himself with ‘Praise Singing’, sycophants and ‘bad advisers’ or he is simply not interested in genuinely governing the State to leave a lasting legacy. Delta State has all the natural and human ‘resourcefulness’ that can transform the State into the “Dubia of Africa”, if only the State Government, as custodians of the State resources, are doing what is expected of them.

We know that Governor Okowa and his Government might not listen to our advice on the subject matter, as it appears he has made up his mind to establish the said State Investment Development Agency, but will not be deterred or discouraged from being objectively critical of every action of Governor Okowa that affects the people of Delta State. It is Governor Okowa’s indifferent disposition and not being a listening Governor to ‘constructive criticism’ that has made us to continue repeating some of the issues we bring to his attention. This was how we strongly advised Governor Okowa against restructuring the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) by amending the law setting up DESOPADEC in line with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) model which according to him, is “to make it more effective and productive in delivering its mandate.”

We made it clear to Governor Okowa back then that amending the law setting up DESOPADEC in line with the NDDC model will not only make the Commission more ‘over-bloated’ with redundant staff, but it will also not automatically make the Commission more effective and productive. The NDDC has not been able to alleviate the overwhelming poverty and infrastructural development decay in the Niger Delta region since its creation. So, it is one thing to change the content-outlook of a body, it is another thing entirely for that established body to deliver. In fact, since its restructuring by Governor Okowa, DESOPADEC has become far worse than it was at its inception. So having refused to listen to good advice, Governor Okowa should tell Deltans what has DESOPADEC achieved after he restructured the Commission? What has Go vernor Okowa achieved with his restructured DESOPADEC? Has DESOPADEC become more effective and efficient as he predicted and told Deltans it will be after he must have restructured it? With what we have on ground, we seriously doubt it. DESOPADEC has become more over-bloated and worse than it was before Okowa’s restructuring. In fact, Deltans no longer have an idea if there is still in existence, a development Interventionist Agency like DESOPADEC because its presence and impact is absolutely not there.

Another action of the Governor Okowa that suggests the Governor is clearly visionless, was his approval of the appointment of the former Chairman of Delta State Waste Management Board, Chief Olori Magege, as his so called Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Social Advocacy, and his inauguration of a 30-man so called Advisory and Peace Building Council that is charged, according to Governor Okowa, to strengthen the foundation of the unity of Delta State. We cannot help but wonder what in the world will such a frivolous portfolio of an office – Social Advocacy – offer to the people of Delta State? Or what would the said Advisory and Peace Building Council do differently that the previous Delta State Advisory Council could not achieve since its existence from year 2000? Why waste ‘scarce’ public funds by creating completely unnecessary portfolio and body of people that will obviousl y come with their strings of ‘personal’ personnel, which will further waste our public funds?

Like he has done with the newly planned Delta State Investment Development Agency, all that it seems the Delta State Governor considers as priority to him, is to create needless portfolios and positions for people in government circles through one Agency or Office or the other. All of which are obvious drain to the State’s purse. Some call it “jobs for the boys”, that is, those who have placed Governor Okowa in Government House deserve to have their interests present in the administration they helped to create. That is how best to explain the above actions of the Okowa Government.

However, regardless of anything, if we most move ahead as Deltans, then this culture of widespread celebration of mediocrity, supporting or “singing praises” of a dysfunctional government with ‘misplaced priorities’ (no matter how long it has been with us), have to be uprooted and done away with; both from the political leaders and the followers. No matter how hard or daunting this task may seem, we believe there is no problem that has no solution. But we must first acknowledge the fact that we do have a ‘big problem as Deltans’ in our hands, and then we can take the necessary steps in addressing them.Until we begin to tell our political leaders and ourselves the ‘truth’ as Deltans, mediocrity and underdevelopment would continue to be enthroned as lord over all of us in Delta State.

Zik Gbemre, JP.

National Coordinator

Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)