From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Executive Assistant on External Relations and Diaspora Affairs to the Delta State Governor Dr Sunny Ofehe has said that several foreign investment have been lined up to be executed in the state to boost it’s FDI profile.
Ofehe stated this after he and a team of European investors met the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu at his private residence and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Johnson Erijo, in Asaba, the state capital over the weekend.
He said that as part of his investment initiatives, he has been able to secured a Cancer Screening hospital to be build in Delta State and financed by the Swedish Credit Bank.
According to him, both the SSG and Chief of Staff to the governor have been intimated of the development which is one of the low hanging fruits among the FDI proposals he has secured, saying that once the state government gives it nod to the proposal, the investors are ready to move in for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.
He disclosed that to boost the State’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), his office has been able to secured a modular oil refinery to be build in the State and to be funded by the Norwegian Sovereign Wealth fund.
“I have secured the construction of a solar project to be funded by Wattcrowd strategic partners. They are to invest up to $1 billion of committed capital for the development of solar projects in Nigeria”, he disclosed.
According to Ofehe, “What we have done in Delta state through my office, is reaching out to investment that would also carry their own credit therefore it doesn’t put the financial burden on the state. So what is expected from the state is an enabling environment and possibly guarantee for return on investment”.
Continuing, he disclosed that he has also secured the construction of a global standard football academy in Delta State by the Dutch based Global Football Academy (GFA) as well as a proposal for the setting up of the Nigeria version of Kleyn Trucks in the state.
While saying that he would continue to dialogue for bilateral and mutual trade relationship with the ‘MORE agenda’ and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led administration, Ofehe hinted that a Dutch Company with international reputation for flood management and port services expertise, was interest in collaborating with Delta State in dealing with flood challenges in the state.
Ofehe, who disclosed that he has prepared four separate documents on Delta State beyond oil and also Delta State solid mineral potential with foreign investment portfolio, maintained that part of his team, was a European security conglomerate with expertise in risk management, internal security using modernised infrastructure with a blue print on how to support the state to resolve it’s security challenge.