CHAIRMAN, Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA), Mr Paul Nmah has said, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has attracted a lot of direct foreign investments to the state.
According to Nmah, the investments have also, created a lot of job opportunities for the teeming youths of the state.
Nmah who doubles as Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investment and Promotion said in an interview with newsmen in Asaba that, “Since I came on board, we have attracted many investments to the state; and as we speak today, many of them are near completion, some are completed and others are waiting to be inaugurated.
“One of such projects that are waiting to be inaugurated is the Umutu Gas Plant; we were able to attract a foreign investor into that project where they signed GSPA with Platform Petroleum to erect a gas plant for the purpose of transporting compressed gas to industries in Delta State which we were lacking even with the high gas deposit in the state.
“The closest place to get compressed natural gas deport was Edo or Enugu States; that gave rise gas to high cost of gas in Delta than these places.
“The Umutu Gas Plant has solved that problem because, the project has been completed and it has started processing gas and feeding a lot of companies in Delta with gas at a lower cost.
“That project cost $20 million; it is completed and its inauguration was held up because of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Over 600 Deltans have been employed there; they are working and earning a living and many more were engaged at different levels of the construction stage of the project.
“During my inspection visit last week to the plant, they were working out a plan with Keke riders in Delta to make them use Compressed Natural Gas as fuel which is cheaper compared to the PMS they are using.
“This is also another huge investment to the state, because, they are going to set up gas fuel station where the Keke can refill their gas.
“We are also discussing with Tanker Drivers in Warri to also key into this project which will also reduce the cost on fuel,” Nmah said.
He added that other key ongoing projects attracted by the agency include; Mechanic Village along the express worth N5.6Billion, Warri Tanker Park which cost N10 billion and others which are near completion.
He stated further that, “these projects have created over 2000 direct and indirect jobs for the youths in the state and by the time they all come on-stream, it will have a multiplying chain effect on the economy of Delta State.”
