The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to expedite action on the proposed $16 billion Gas Revolution Industrial City at Ogidigben area of the state to help boost the economy and job creation drive of the government.
The ground breaking ceremony of the project was performed by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Economic Council retreat for the 36 states governors and other relevant agencies of government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, Okowa said the project, if eventually implemented, would be vital to stabilising the nation’s economy and contribute to the prosperity of Nigeria.
The governor, who expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for considering the state for the citing of the multi-billion dollars project, said: “I hope that we are able to take advantage of it at the moment.
“If we do that, it will create thousands of jobs.
“There is no doubt about it.
“Beyond the fact that it will add a lot to the economy of this country.”
Okowa stated that due to the importance the state government placed on the project, he met with President Buhari on assumption of office and the current Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and other relevant organs of government, disclosing: “The last I was told was that they were supposed to have a meeting towards the end of February to take decisions as to what next to do.
“They have not briefed me now how far they have gone.”
The project, which is public sector driven, has attracted several multinational companies in the agro-allied, banking, power, oil and gas and maritime sectors.
The Delta State Government, under the arrangement, is expected to provide all the land needed for the construction of the project, while the private sector participants are expected to provide the funding for the effective takeoff of the project.
The Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority and the Nigeria Ports Authority are expected to play key roles in the project implementation.
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