As Delta State marks 35 years of its creation, the Chairman of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Olorogun John Obukohwo Nani, has congratulated Deltans, describing the anniversary as an important milestone in the state’s journey of development, peace, unity and progress.
Nani said Delta’s achievements since its creation on August 27, 1991, were the result of the resilience, sacrifices and collective contributions of successive administrations and the people of the state.
He, however, noted that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration had provided fresh momentum to the state’s development through the MORE Agenda, which he said had translated into visible projects and interventions across the three senatorial districts.
According to Nani, the strength of the MORE Agenda lies in its emphasis on meaningful development, opportunities for all, realistic reforms and enhanced peace and security.
He said the administration’s approach had ensured that development was not concentrated in a particular part of the state but was being deliberately extended to communities across Delta.
“The beauty of the MORE Agenda is that it is people-centred and development-driven. It is about ensuring that our people feel the presence of government in their communities and that no part of Delta is left behind,” Nani said.
The DESOPADEC chairman said the commission has remained a strategic instrument for delivering the administration’s development objectives to oil-producing communities.
He explained that DESOPADEC’s interventions in roads, drainage, education, human capital development, community infrastructure and other areas were designed to complement the broader development agenda of the state government.
“We are determined to ensure that the people in our mandate areas feel the impact of government. Development must not remain an abstraction; it must be seen in the roads we build, the schools and public facilities we provide, the opportunities we create and the interventions that improve the lives of our people,” he said.
Nani noted that DESOPADEC’s mandate was particularly important because of the need to sustain development in the oil-producing areas while promoting equity and a strong sense of belonging among the various ethnic groups that make up the state.
He said the commission would continue to work with communities and other stakeholders to identify critical needs and channel interventions towards projects capable of producing lasting social and economic benefits.
According to him, the development of Delta cannot be separated from the peace and unity that have enabled the state to attract investment, execute projects and pursue long-term development.
Nani said Governor Oborevwori’s administration had demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining the peaceful atmosphere required for sustainable development.
“Without peace, there can be no sustainable development. Our people must continue to see themselves first as Deltans, regardless of ethnic background, senatorial district or political persuasion. Our diversity should unite us, not divide us,” he said.
He stressed that Delta’s ethnic and cultural diversity should be regarded as an asset rather than a source of division, urging political, traditional and community leaders to continue promoting dialogue, tolerance and mutual respect.
Nani said the peaceful coexistence among Deltans had enabled successive administrations to focus on governance and development rather than prolonged conflicts and divisions.
He also commended Governor Oborevwori for sustaining the developmental momentum inherited from previous administrations while introducing his own priorities through the MORE Agenda.
“The governor has demonstrated that continuity and innovation can work together. He is building on what previous administrations achieved while bringing his own vision and energy to the development of the state,” Nani said.
He said the impact of the MORE Agenda could be seen in the spread of infrastructure and other interventions across Delta, adding that the administration’s development philosophy had strengthened confidence among citizens and stakeholders.
Nani further said DESOPADEC was committed to supporting the state government’s vision by ensuring that its interventions in oil-producing communities remained impactful, equitable and responsive to the needs of the people.
He noted that the commission’s responsibility went beyond the construction of physical infrastructure, stressing that human capital development and empowerment were equally important to the future of the state.
“Roads and buildings are important, but the ultimate objective of development is the human being. When we educate our young people, empower them and create opportunities for them to prosper, we are building the Delta of tomorrow,” he said.
The chairman said the commission would continue to pursue programmes that would strengthen the capacity of young people and other residents of oil-producing communities to participate meaningfully in the state’s economy.
Nani also linked Delta’s future prosperity to the state’s ability to diversify its economy and make effective use of its human and natural resources.
He said while oil remained important to the state’s economy, greater attention should be paid to agriculture, entrepreneurship, skills development, technology, manufacturing and other sectors capable of creating sustainable employment and wealth.
According to him, the combination of infrastructure development, human capital investment, economic diversification and peace-building would determine how successfully Delta moves into the next phase of its development.
The DESOPADEC chairman further described the commission’s renewed drive under the Oborevwori administration as part of a larger effort to ensure that oil-producing communities were not merely sources of revenue but active beneficiaries of development.
He said the extension of the tenure of the DESOPADEC board provided an additional opportunity to consolidate ongoing projects, strengthen delivery and initiate interventions that would have lasting impact on the people.
“The governor has challenged us to do more, and we are determined to justify this confidence by redoubling our efforts in the service of the people of the oil-producing communities,” Nani said.
He pledged that DESOPADEC would continue to deepen engagement with communities, improve project execution and ensure that available resources were directed towards interventions with measurable benefits.
As Delta commemorates 35 years of statehood, Nani urged Deltans to look beyond political and ethnic differences and embrace the common identity that binds them together.
“Delta belongs to all of us. Our different ethnic identities, communities and political affiliations should never become reasons to undermine our common interest. The peace we enjoy is an asset, and we must all protect it,” he said.
He said the state had every reason to be optimistic about the future, given the pace of infrastructure development, investments in human capital and the administration’s emphasis on inclusive governance.
Nani called on Deltans at home and abroad to continue supporting initiatives that promote development, peace and unity, stressing that government alone could not build the Delta of the future.
“The Delta we want is one where peace and development reinforce each other, where every community has a stake in progress and where every Deltan can look to the future with confidence. That is the spirit we must carry forward,” he said.
He wished Deltans a happy 35th anniversary and expressed confidence that, with sustained unity, purposeful leadership and collective commitment, Delta State would achieve even greater milestones in the years ahead.
