Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Thursday called for urgent actions to stem the geometric growth in the country’s population before it leads to crisis.
Okowa who made the call in Asaba during his maiden media chat with journalists since he assumed office for the second term, also urged the media to partner with government to develop the state.
“With the rate at which our population is growing, it is a point of worry and can trigger off crisis. So, at best, we have to plan to deal with our population,’’ Okowa said.
He said that his administration would focus on completion of all ongoing projects, taking stock and paying all contractors before commencing new projects.
According to him, governance is difficult particularly now that there are lots of challenges including insecurity, minimum wage payment and slow economic growth with rapid population growth.
The governor thanked the journalists for being critical in their reportage before and during the last general election and urged them to remain partners in progress.
“We hope to be partners in progress by reporting facts and reaching out to hear from us and to advise us appropriately.
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“It is not easy to govern a state like Delta, particularly now that there are lots of issues of insecurity, minimum wage and the slow economic growth with population growing at higher rate,’’ he said.
Okowa said he would strengthen the education sector to have more impact on the people through technical education and equipping the youths to use their brains and hands after training.
The governor said his administration would give attention to healthcare, wealth creation and youths and women empowerment with special attention to the girl-child development.
“We shall continue with our road projects and also increase our internally generated revenue.
“ We are also committed to paying the new minimum wage as we are waiting for the Federal Government to release the template.
“On urban renewal, we shall tackle issues of indiscriminate dumping of waste on the roads by residents because it is not in our interest to dump waste indiscriminately,’’ he added.
Okowa said that the process to concession of the Asaba Airport was ongoing and expressed hope that the airport would be made a national hub through private sector involvement.
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He said efforts were on to complete the storm drain projects in Asaba in few weeks’ time, adding that flooding would soon become a thing of the past in the state capital.
The governor said his administration would ensure that appreciable work was done on the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriage way which is a federal government road.
Also speaking, Mr. Mike Ikeogwu, State Council Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), congratulated the governor on his re-election and successful inauguration for a second term.
He appealed to the governor to intervene on the land matter that had hindered the smooth development of the NUJ press centre in the state capital.
He, however, pledged the union’s support to drive the state government’s programmes by ensuring objectivity in reportage. (NAN)
