The African Union (AU) has commended Delta Government for its foresight in employment generation and infrastructural development, saying it has fared well in that regard.
Nigeria’s Representative in African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council, Mr Oba John, gave the commendation when he led a delegation on an inspection of ongoing secretariat project and others being built by the state government.
Oba said that Delta was in the right trajectory in the attainment of agenda 2063 set by the
AU through the execution of projects and implementation of policies with direct positive impact on the lives of the people.
He said that the Union was impressed with the employment generated by the state government through the engagement of youths on project sites across the state, describing it as “step in the right direction’’.
John observed that Delta was one of the states in Nigeria that would be ready in a few years to properly take advantage of the continental free trade agreement entered into by the Federal Government and the AU.
He said his team was also amazed at the pragmatism of the state government in bringing all of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in a central location, with state-of-the-art facilities, adding that it would ensure smooth running of government..
While encouraging the state government not to relent in its development drive, the envoy advised other state government to emulate the Okowa administration in taking development to grassroots through the provision of basic amenities.
Conducting the team round the secretariat project, Commissioner for Special Duties, Government
House, Dr Henry Sakpra, said that the project had engaged between 300 and 400 skilled workers every day.
He said that when completed, each floor of the building would accommodate seven MDAs, pointing out that there was also provision for two banking halls, a crèche and a standard hospital with theatre.
On safety measures, Sakpra said that two fiber tanks which could take 36,000 litres of water had been installed, with another reservoir for 150,000 litres of water.
The team is expected to visit other project sites in the state.
