In this interview with NAIJ.com’s Austin Oyibode, he speaks on the developments and the challenges which the present government needs to look into in the state.
Excerpts:
You have been in government over the years. You have served as commissioner and special adviser, what is your view on the development of Delta since it was carved out of the defunct Bendel State?
Though it is not yet uhuru, we have made tremendous progress as a state. Today, we are still in one state living as Deltans. In terms of infrastructure, we have done well – above average by my standards.
In terms of human capital development, we have a lot of rooms for improvement, health-wise, we are not doing badly if you consider the number of hospitals, including cottage hospitals, existing in the state. We also have a teaching hospital now.
Of course, in the education sector, I can score the state average because, just within 25 years, we have four polytechnics, one university with about three campuses and these are all running. Most importantly, these schools have been accredited but one area we need to improve on is the area of agriculture.
We have not done well in the area of agriculture. It is the only area that can improve our economy and absorb our teeming youths who are becoming restive as a result of idleness.
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Fred Majemite
I know the state government is also laying a lot of emphasis on that sector, that is why there are some programmes to train our people and at the end, give them starter packs. But, I think we can do more with massive orientation so that we all should know that gone are the days of white collar jobs, that we should go back to the farms. There are industrial farmers now and government should create the enabling environment while the private sector should also come.
In the area of housing also, we have not been able to get it right. Government needs to encourage private developers to invest in that sector. We also know that revenue is dwindling, so, as a state, we should lay emphasis on internally generated revenue (IGR). We are not still paying taxes, tax comes in different forms.
For instance, I was the Commissioner for Lands, I am aware that people still build houses without government approvals and I also advised that for those who have already built on government lands, government may not be able to move them out but, should ratify their stay, so that these people can pay to government.
For instance, for every 20 houses in these developing areas, about 11 don’t have approval. So, if there is awareness that for every house that does not have approval, government will pull it down, you will see that people will rush to get approval for their buildings. Government should also ensure that for every favour you need from government, you must show your tax certificate.
Many people will believe you are saying these because, you are actively involved in government affairs. The roads are in deplorable state and generally, infrastructure is in a bad shape?
I said above average. The season that we are in has made it impossible to fix the roads. It is not only peculiar to Delta State but, government does not have enough money, so, instead of spending so much on a road, they decide to spread it.
Maybe we will have a rethink, so that we can spend more on the construction of one road and be sure that we have done such, otherwise, no matter what, in the next season, there will be failed portions. Even the Lagos/Benin road, the roads are failing but, we should also change the style by using interlocking in areas that are marshy or waterlogged.
But, after 25 years of creating Delta State, Asaba, the state c
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